A 93 

True and Historical 

NARRATIVE 

Of the COLOiNY of 

GEORGIA, 

In Jmerica^ 

From the First Settlement thereof until this present 

Period : 
Containing 
The most authentick Facts, Matters, and Transac- 
tions therein : 
Together with 
His Majesty's Charter, Representations of the People, 
Letters, &c. 
And 
A Dedication to His Excellency General Oglethorpe. 



TPat. Tailfer, M. D. 
By < Hugh Anderson, M. A. 
I Da. Douglas, and others, 
Landholders in Georgia, at present in Charles-Town, m 
South-Carolina, 



-Qui Deorum 



Muneribus sapienter uti, 
Durumq ; callet Vauperiemq ; pati 
Pejusq ; Letlio Flagitium timer, 
Non iile pro caris Amicis 
Aui Patna tiioidus Perire. 




f; Charles Town, South Carolina: 
Printed hy P. Timothy, for the Authors, 1741. 



\i^^ \. 



p. FoHCE, Washington, 1885, 



To His Excellency 

James Oglethorpe, £55^; 

General and Commander in Chief of His Majesty^s Forces in 
SOUTH CAROLINA and GEORGIA ; and one of the 
Honourable Trustees for Establishing the Colony of Georgia 
in America, ^c. 



May it please Your Excellency, 

A S the few surviving Remains of the Colony of Georgia find 
-^it necessary to present the World (and in particular Great 
Britain) with a true State of that Province, from its first Rise 
to its present Period ; Your Excellency (of all Mankind) is best 
entitled to the Dedication, as the principal Author of its present 
Strength and Affluence, Freedom and Prosperity: And tho* 
incontestable Truths will recommend the following NARRA- 
TIVE to the patient and attentive Reader ; yet your Name, 
SIR, will be no little Ornament to the Frontispiece, and may 
possibly engage some courteous Perusers a little beyond it. 

THAT Dedication and Flattery are synonimous, is the Com- 
plaint of every Dedicator, who concludes himself ingenuous and 
fortunate, if he can discover a less trite and direct Method of 
flattering than is usually practised ; but we are happily prevented 
from the least Intention of this kind, by the repeated Offerings 
of the Muses and News- Writers to Your Excellency, in the 
publick Papers : 'Twere presumptuous even to dream of equal- 
ling or encreasing them ; We therefore flatter ourselves, that 
Nothing we can advance will in the least shock Your Excel- 
lency's Modesty; not doubting but your Goodness will pardon 
any Deficiency of Elegance and Politeness, on account of our 
Sincerity, and the serious Truth we have the Honour to 
approach you with. 

WE have seen the ancient Custom of sending forth Colonies, 
for the Improvement of any distant Territory, or new Acquisition, 
continued down to ourselves ; but to Your Excellency alone it 
is owing, that tlie World is made acquainted with a Plan, 
highly refined from those of all foraier Projecters. They fondly 
imagin'd it necessary to communicate to .such young Settle- 



IV. DEDICATiOK. 

ments, the fullest Ric;lits and Properties, all the Immunities of 
their Mother Countries, and Privileges rather more extensive : 
By such Means indeecl, these Colonies flourish'd with early 
Trade and AfHuence; but Your Excellency's Concern for our 
perpetual Welfare, could never permit you to propose such tran- 
sitory Advantages for us: You consider 'd Riches like a Divine 
and Piiilosopher, as the Irritamenta Mnhrum, and knew thai 
they were disposed to inflate weak Minds with Pride ; to pam- 
per the body with Luxury, and introduce a long Variety of 
Evils. Thus hKve you Protected vs from, ourselves, as Mr. Wal- 
ler says, by keeping all Earthly Comforts from us : You have 
afforded us the Opportunity of arriving at the Integrity of the 
Primitive Times, by intailing a more than Primitive Poverty 
on us : The Toil tliat is necessary to our bare Subsistence, must 
effectually defend us from the Anxieties of any further Ambi- 
tion : As we have no Properties, to feed Vain-Glory and beget 
Contention ; so we are not puzzled with any System of Laws 
to ascertain and establish them : The valuable Virtue of Humili- 
ty is secured to us, by your Care to prevent our procuring, or 
so much as seeing, any Negroes, (the only human Creatures 
proper to improve our Soil) lest our Simplicity might mistake 
the poor Africans for greater slaves than ourselves : And that we 
might fully receive the Spiritual Benefit of those wholesome 
Austerities ; you have wisely denied us the Use of such Spirit- 
uous Liquors, as might in the least divert our Minds from the 
Contemplation of our Happy Circumstances. 

OUR Suljject swells upon us ; and did we allow ourselves to 
indulge our Inclination, without considering our weak Abilities, 
we should be tempted to launch out into many of Your Excel- 
lency's extraordinary Endowments, which do not so much re- 
gard the Affair in Hand : But as this would lead us beyond the 
Bounds of a Dedication ; so would it engross a Subject too 
extensive for us, to the Prejudice of other Authors and Pane- 
gyrists ; We shall therefore confine ourselves to that remarkable 
Scene of Your Conduct, whereby Great Britain in general, 
and the Settlers of Georgia in particular, are laid under such 
inexpressible Obligations. 

BE pleased then, Great SIR, to accompany our heated Ima- 
ginations, in taking a View of this Colony of Georgia ! this 
Child of your ausjiicious Politicks I arrived at the utmost Vigor 
of its Constitution, at a Term when most former States have 
been struggling through the Convulsions of their Infancy. This 
early Maturity however, lessons our Admiration, that Your Ex- 
cellency lives to see (what few Founders ever aspired after) the 
great Decline and almost final Termination of it. So mr^ny 



DEDICATION. V, 

have finish'd their Course during the Progress of the Experi- 
ment, and such Numbers have retreated from the Fantoms of 
Poverty and Slavery which their cowardly Imaginations pictur'd 
to them ; that you may justly vaunt with the boldest Hero of 
them all, 

Lilcr Death you reign 

O'er silent Subjects and a desert Plain. 

Busiiis, 

YET must your Enemies (if you have any) be reduced to 
confess, that no ordinary Statesman could have digested in the 
like Manner, so capacious a Scheme, such a copious Jumble of 
Power and Politicks. We shall content ourselves with observ- 
ing, that all those beauteous Models of Government which the 
little States of Germany exercise, and those extensive Liberties 
which the Boors of Poland enjoy, were design'd to concenter in 
your System ; and were we to regard the Modes of Govern- 
ment, we must have been strangely unlucky to have miss'd of the 
best, wdiere there was the Appearance of so great a Variety ; for 
under the Influence of our Perpetual Dictatoi', we have seen 
something like Aristocracy, Oligarchy, as well as the Triumvi-^ 
rate, Decemvirate and Consular Authority of famous Republicks, 
which have expired many Ages before us : What Wonder then 
we share the fame Fate ? Do their Towns and Villages exist 
but in Story and Rubbish ? We are all over Ruins ; our Publick- 
Works, Forts, Wells, High-Ways, Light-House, Store and 
Water-Mills, &c. are dignified like theirs, with the same vene- 
rable Desolation. The Log-House indeed, is hke to be the 
last forsaken Spot of your Emphe ; yet even this, thro' the 
Death or Desertion of those who should continue to inhabit it, 
must suddenly decay ; the Bankrupt Jailor himself, shall be soon 
denied the Privilege of human Conversation ; and when this last 
Moment of the Spell expires, the whole shall vanish like the 
Illusion of some Eastern Magician. 

BUT let not this solitary Prospect impress Your Excellency 
with any Fears of having your Services to Mankind, and to the Set- 
tlers of Georgia in particular, buried in Oblivion ; for if we diminu- 
tive Authors are allow'd to prophesie (as you know Poets in 
those Cases formerly did) we may confidently presage. That 
while the Memoirs of America continue to be read in English, 
Spanish, or the Language of the Scots High Landers, Your 
Excellency's Exploits and Epocha will be transmitted to Pos- 
terity. 

SHOULD Your Excellency apprehend the least Tincture of 
Flattery in any Thing already hinted ; we may sincerely assure 
you, we intended nothing that our Sentiments did not very strict- 



VI. DEDICATION. 

ly attribute to your Merit ; and in such Sentiments, we have the 
Satisfaction of being fortified by all Persons of Impartiality and 
Discernment. 

But to trespass no longer on those Minutes, which Your 
Excellency may suppose more significantly employ'd on the 
Sequal ; let it suflice at present, to assure you, that we are 
deeply affected with your Favours ; and tlio' unable of ourselves 
properly to acknowledge them, we shall embrace every Oppor- 
tunity of Recommending you to higher Powers, who (we are 
hopeful) will reward Your Excellency according to your 
MERIT. 

May it please Your Excellency, 

Your Excellecy^s 

Most devoted Servants, 

The Land-Holders of G e o r g i a, 

Authors of the followins: Narrative, 



^^'W**^''. 



PREFACE. 

f^HE Colony of Georgia has afforded so much suhject of 
-* Conversation to the World, that it is not to be questioned 
hut a true and impartial Account of it from its first Settlement 
to its present ^Period, will be generally agreeable ; and the 
more so, that the Subject has hitherto been so much disguised 
and misrepresented in Pamphlets, Poems, Gazettes and Jour- 
nals. 

IF it it ask'd, Why this Narrative has not been publish'' d to 
the World sooner? We assign two Reasons, which (tve doubt 
not) will be satisfactory. 

First, A Number of Honourable Gentlemen accepted the 
Charge of Trustees for executing the Purposes in his Majesty's 
most gracious Charter; Gentlemen, ivhose Honour and In- 
tegrity we never did, or yet do call in question : But, to our great 
Misfortune, none of that honourable Body, (excepting Mr. 
Ogelthorpe^ ever had Opportunity of Viewing the Situa- 
tion and Circumstances of the Colony, and judging for them- 
selves as to the Necessities thereof How far Mr. Oglethorpe's 
Schemes were consistent with the Welfare or Prosperity of it, 
will best appear from the following Narrative. 

WHEN Experience gradually unfolded to us the Alterations 
tve found absolutely requisite to our subsisting, ive made all duti- 
ful and submissive Applications to these our Patrons, in whom 
106 placed so much Confidence: This Course we judged the most 
proper and direct, and therefore repeated these our dutiful Ap' 
plications, both to the Body of the Trustees and to Mr. Ogle- 
thorpe ; but alas ! our Miseries could not alter his Views of 
Things, and therefore we could obtain no Redress from him; 
and the honourable Board we found were prejudiced against 
our Petitions (no doubt) thro' Misinformations and Misrepre- 
sentations ; and this (we are confident) a further Enquiry and 
Time will convince them of 

THE inviolable Regard we paid to the honourable Board, 
Icept vs from applying to any other Power for Redress, whilst 
the least Hopes could be entertained of any from them : And we 
make no doubt, but that our Moderation in this respect, ivill re- 
commend us to all Persons of Humanity. 

A SECOND Reason is, That as we had daily Occasion of 
seeing our supream Magistrates, who ruled over us with unlimit- 



VIU. PREFACE. 



r,(J Power, exercising illegal Acts of Authority, bij Threatnings , 
Imprisonments, and other Opincssions ; therefore ivc had just 
Reason to apprehend, that any further Steps to oLtain Relief, 
might subject us to the like Ilffects of arbitrary Power ; so, 
until nou\ that a Handful of us have made our Escape to a 
Land of Liberty (after having made Shipwreck of our Time 
and Substance in that unhappy Colony) we had it not in our 
Power to represent the State of that Settlement to the World, 
or make our Application to higher Powers for Redress. 

WE are hopeful, that the Perusal of the following Sheets, 
loill rectify two sorts of Readers in their Surprize in relation 
to the Colony of GE 'RGIA, viz. Those of Great Britain, 
who have never known this Part of the World but by Descrip- 
tion; and those of America : The First are no doubt surprized, 
to thinli it possible, that so ])leasant and temperate a Clime ; so 
fruitful a Soil ; such extensive Privileges ; all which were pub- 
lickly given out ; and such considerable Sums of publiclc and 
private Benefactions, have not satisfied and enriched us : Them 
we refer to the following Narrative for Satisfaction The Ameri- 
can Reader, on the other Hand, must be equally surprized to 
find that such Numbers should have been so fooled and blindfold- 
ed, as to expect to live in this Part of America by Cultivation 
of Lands without Negroes, aiid much more ivithoiit Titles to 
their Lands, and laid under a Load of Grievances and Restric- 
tions : And tho' these tvere redressed, Hoiv could Persons in 
their Senses ever imagine, that Fifty Acres of Pine-Barren, not 
value Fifty Six pences in Property, (and whereof many Thou- 
sands may be purchased at half that Rate in the neighbouring 
Province) could maintain a Family of white People, and pay 
such Duties and Qiiit-Rents in a few Years, as the richest 
Grounds in Carolina, or other Provinces in America will never 
bear ? To these last ive shall only beg leave to observe, that 
such fatal Artifice was used, (ive shall not say by whom) such 
specious Pretences were made use of and such real Falsities 
advanced, and the smallest Foundations of Truth magniffd to 
Hyperbole ; that ive, ivho had no Opportunity of knowing 
otherivays, or means of learning the real Truth, and being void 
of all Suspicion of Artifice or Design, easily believed all these, 
and fell into the Decoy. 

THE Mind of Man is Naturally curious and enterprizing ; 
ive easily feed our Wishes into Realities, and affect and look 
upon every Novelty in the most favourable Light ; how easy then 
is it, for Cunning and Artifice to lay hold on the weak Sides of 
our Fellow- Creatures, as we catch Fish with a Hook baited tty 
their particular Gout ? 



PREFACE. 



TO prove this Charge, we shall only transcribe some Passa- 
ges from a Piece of Prose, and some from a Piece of Poesie ; 
by which Specimens, the Reader may judge of sojne considerable 
Number ivhich were dispersed and vended of the same Stamp. 

THE First are from a Pamphlet printed at London, 1733, 
entitled, A new and accurate Account of the Provinces of South- 
Carolina and Georgia. The Author has not thought fit to 
favour us with his Name; but it is easy to conceive, that we, 
ivho suspected no Artifice or Design, must conclude, that it came 
from the best Authority, fro7n the Circumstances of its being 
dispersed publicMy, and not being contradicted, and from the 
Author s intimate Acquaintance (at least so pretended) tvith all 
the Trustees Measures and Designs. After a high Encomium 
upon the Trustees, Page 7, he says, ' The Air of Georgia is 
' healthy, being always serene and pleasant, never subject to ex- 
cessive Heat or Cold, or sudden Changes of Weather ; the 
Winter is regular and short, and the Summer cooled with 
refreshing Breezes; it neither feels the cutting North-west 
W^ind that the Virginians complain of, nor the intense Heats 
of Spain, Barbary, Italy and A^gypt. The soil will produce 
any Thing with very little Culture.' — Page 19, 'All sorts of 
Corn yield an amazing Increase; One Hundred fold is the 
common Estimate ; tl)o' their Husbandry is so slight, that they 
can only be said to scratch the Earth, and meerly to cover the 
Seed : All the best sort of Cattle and Fowls are multiplied 
without Number, and therefore without a Price : Vines are 
Natives here.' — Page 21, ' The Woods near Savannah are 
not hard to be clear'd ; many of them have no Under-Wood, 
and the Trees do not stand generally thick en the Ground, but 
at considerable Distances asunder : When you fall the Tim- 
ber for Use, or to make Tar, the Root will rot in four or five 
Years; and in the mean Time you may Pasture the Ground; 
but if you would only destroy the Timber, it's done by half a 
Dozen Strokes of an Ax surrounding each Tree a little abov^ 
the Root, in a Year or two the Water getting into the Wound 
rots the Timber, and a brisk Gust of Wind fells many Acres 
for you in an Hour, of which you may make one bright Bon- 
fire. Such will be frequently here the Fate of the Pine, the 
Wall-nut, the Cypress, the OaJc and the Cedar. Such an Air 
and Soil can only be described by a Poetical Pen, because 
there is no Danger of exceeding the Truth ; therefore take 
WALLERS Description of an Island in the Neighbourhood 
of Carolina, to give you an Idea of this happy Climate : 

' The Spring wliicli but salutes u?, here, 
' Inhabits there, ami coiiri^ thiMii all the Year • 
B 



X. PREFACE. 

' Ripe Fruits and Blossoms on the same Tiee live ; 

' At onre they proinisi? v\h;it at onre they give. 

' So sweet the Air, so moderate the Clime, 

' None stckly livt's, or rlies before his Time ; 

' Heav'n sure hug kept this :?])0t of Earth uncurst, 

' To shew how all Things were created first. 

Page 27, ' The Indians bring many a Mile the whole Deer's 

• Flesh, which they sell to the People who liv'e in the Country, 
' for the Value of Six-pence Sterling ; and a Wild Turkey of 
' Forty Pound weight, for tlie Value of Two-pence.^ — In Page 
32, the Author ivhen recomtnen'ling the Georgia Adventure to 
Gentlemen of decayed Circumstances, who must labour at Home 
or do worse, states the folloiving Objection, viz. ' If such People 
' can't get Bread here for their Labour, how will their Condition 
' be mended in Georgia ?' IVhich he solves in the folloiving 
Manner, — 'The Answer is easy ; Part of it is well attested, and 
' Part self-evident ; they have Land there for Nothing, and that 

Land so fertile, that as is said before, they receive an Hundred 
fold Increase, for taking a very little Pains. Give here in En- 
gland ten Acres of good Land to one of those helpless Per- 
sons, and I doubt not his Ability to make it sustain him, and 
by his own Culture, without letting it to another ; but the 
Difference between no Rent and rack'd Rent, is the Differ- 
ence between Eating and Starving.' — Page 32, ' These Trus- 
tees not only give Land to the Unhappy who go thither, 
but are also impowered to receive the voluntary Contributions 
of charitable Persons, to enable to furnish the poor Adven- 
turers with all Necessaries for the Expence of their Voyage, 
occupying the Land, and supporting them till they find them- 
selves comfortably settled ; so that now the Unfortunate will 
not be obliged to bind themselves to a long Servitude to pay 
for their Passage ; for they may be carried gratis into a Land 
of Liberty and Plenty, where they immediately find themselves 
in the Possession of a com])etent Estate, in an happier Climate 
than they knew before, and they are unfortunate indeed if here 
they cannot forget their Sorrows.' — Nay, as if such Assertions 
as these were not powerful enough to influence poor People, 
Calculations are subjoin'' d, to demonstrate, that a Family consist- 
ing of one poor Man, his Wife, and Child of seven Years old, 
may in Georgia earn sixty Pounds Sterling per Annum, aiid this 
abstracted from Silk, Wine, he — Page 41, 'Now this very 

• Family in Georgia, by raising Rice and Corn sufficient for its 
' Occasions, and by attending the Care of their Cattle and Land 
' (which almost every one is able to do in some tolerable Degree 
' for himself) will easily produce in gross Value the Sum of 
" '^ixty Pounds Sterling per Annum ; nor is this to be wondered 



PREFACE. XI. 

at, because of the valuable Assistance it has from a fertile Soil 
and a Stock given gratis ; which must always be reuiembred in 
this Calculation. 

' The Calculation of One Hundred such Families when for- 
mally extended, stands thus,' — Page 43, /. s d. 
' In LoJirhn One Hundred 
' poor Men earn 



500 00 



1200 00 
2400 00 
1200 00 



* One Hundred Woman and, > c-^^ ^^ q 

' One Hundred Children, 5 ~ ' 

1000 00 
' In Georgia an Hundred Families earn, 
' One Hundred Men for Labour, - - 1200 00 

' Ditto for Care of their Stock > 
' at leisure Hours, 5 

* One Hundred Woman and > 

' One Hundred Children, 5 

* Land and Stock in them- > 

' selves, 5 

Total, - - - 6000 00 
Q. E. D. 

B UT we must conclude this Head, lest we tire the Reader. 
We shall now beg Leave to quote a few Poetical Accounts of 
this Paradise of the World, and of the Fatherly Care and Protec- 
tion we might depend on from Mr. Oglethorpe. An Hundred 
Hackney Muses might be instanced ; but we shall confine ourselves 
to the celebrated Performance of the Rev. Mr. Samuel Wesly, 
where we might well expect a su^cient Stock of Truth and 
Religion, to counter-balance a Poetical Licence. Vide a Poem 
entitled, GEORGIA, and Verses upon Mr. Oglethorpe's 
second Voyage to Georgia. Printed London, 1736. 

' OEC where beyond the spacious Ocean lies 

• ^ A wide waste Land beneath the Southern Skies ; 
' Where kindly Siuis for Ages rolTd in v^in, 

' Nor e'er the Vintage saw, or rip'ning Grain ; 

* Where all Things into wild LuxuiMnce ran, 

' And Burthen'd Nature ask'd the Aid of Man. 
' In this sweet Climate and prolifick Soil, 
' He bids the eager Swain indulge his Toil; 

* In free Possession to the Planter's Hand, 

♦ Consigns the rich unruhivated Land. 

* Go you, the Monarch cries, go settle there, 

• Whom Bniam from her Plenitude can spare ; 
' Go, your old wonted Industry pursue; 

' Nor envy Spain the Treasures of Peru. 



' But not content in Council here to join, 
A further Labour Oglethorpe, is thine : 
In each great Deed thou claimst the foremost Part, 
And Toil and Danger charm thy gen'rous Heart : 



XU. PREFACE. 

' But chief I'nr this thy warm Affections rise , 

' For i)h '. thou view'st it with a Parent's Eyes; 

' For this thou templ'st the vast frenienduous Main, 

* And Floods and Storms oppose their Tlireats in vain. 



' He cpincs, whose Liff, while absent from your View, 

Was one continued Ministry for you ; 

For you were laid out all his Pains and Art, 

Won ev'iy Will and softened ev'ry Heart. 

With what patern:il Joy shall he relate 

How views its Mother Isle your little State : 

Think while he strove your distant Coast to gaitT, 

How oft he sigh'd and chid the tedious Main ! 

Impatient to suivey, by Culture grac'd, 

Your dreary Wood Land and your rugged Wasta. 

Fair were the Scenes he feign'd, the Prospects fair; 

And sure, ye Georgians, all he feign'd was their. 

A Thousand Pleasures crowd into his Breast ; 

But one, one mighty Thought absorbs the rest, 

And gives me Heav'n to see, the Patriot cries. 

Another Britain in the Desert rise. 



Again, 

' With nobler Products see thy Georgia teems, 
' Chear'd with the genial Sun's director Beams ; 
' There the wild Vine to Culture learns to yield, 
' And purple Clusters ripen through the Field. 
' Now bid thy Merchants bring thy Wine no more 
' Or from th' Iberian or the Tuscan Shore : 

* No more they need th' Hungarian Vineyards drain. 
' And France herself may drink her best Champain, 

' Behold ! at last, and in a subject Land, 

* Nectar sufficient for thy large Demand; 
' Delicious Nectar, powerful to improve 

' Our hospitable Mirth and social Love : 
' This for thy jovial Sons. — Nor less the Care 
' Of thy young Province, to oblige the Fair ; 
' Here tend the Silk Worm In the verdant Shade, 
' The frugal Matron and the blooming Maid. 

FROM the Whole, we doubt not, the Reader will look upon 
us as sufficiently punished for our Credulity : And indeed^ 
who would not have been catch' d with such Promises, such Pros- 
pects? What might not the Poor Man flatter himself with, from 
su£h an Alteration in his Situation 1 And, how much more might 
a Gentleman expect from a plentiful Stoclc of his own, and 
Numbers of Servants to set up with 1 Could a Person with the 
least Faith, have question' d the Committing his Interests to such 
Guardians, and such a tender Father as Mr. Oglethorpe was 
believed to be 1 Whether he has acted that generous, that humane, 
that fatherly Part, the following Narrative must determine. 

As for those Poetical Licences touching the Wine and Silk ; 
we do not transcribe them as a Reflection upon the Author ; but 
as a Satyr upon the Mismanagement of those Manufactures : 



PREFACE. XIU. 

since no Measures were taken that secmd really intended for 
their Advancement, 

WE no wise question the Possibility of advancing such Im- 
provements in Georgia, tvith far less Sums of Money, properly 
applied, than the Publick has bestowed: But not even the 
Flourishing of JVine and, Silk, can make a Colony of British 
Subjects happy, if they are deprived of the Liberties and Pro- 
perties of their Birth-right. 

WE have endeavour'' d to the Utmost to be tender of Charac- 
ters ; but as we undertake to write an Account of Facts and 
Truths ; there is no Help for it, when those Facts and Truths 
press home. 

IT is a common Satisfaction to Sufferers, to expose to the 
Publick, the Rocks upon which they split, and the Misfortunes 
by which they suffered ; and it may well be allowed us, to publish 
the Causes to luhich we attribute the Ruin of that Settlement 
and ourselves; and more especially as ive are Prosecutors for 
Justice from higher Poivers ; ivhich we doubt not receiving as 
the Case deserves. 

WE hope the Truth of the folloiving Narrative, will recom- 
mend itself to the Perusal of the candid Reader. The fatal 
Truths of this Tragedy hath already been sealed with the Death 
of Multitudes of our Felloiv- Creatures ; but still ( Thanks to 
the Providence of the Almighty) some survive to attest and con- 
firm the Truth of lohat is herein contain' d, against any Persons 
or Names, however great, however poiverful. Our Circumstan- 
ces and Sincerity will excuse our Want of that Politeness and 
Accuracy of Stile, which might have represented our Case to 
greater Advantage, to the Courteous Reader, whom we shall na 
finger detain from the Subject in Hand- 



A True and Historical 

NARRATIVE, &c 



NOTHING is more difficult for Authors, than to divest them- 
selves of Byass and Partiality, especially when they themselves 
are Parties or Sufferers in the Affair treated of. 

IT is possible, this may be suppos'd the Case with us, the 
Publishers of this Narrative ; it may be imagined, that the Hard- 
ships, Losses and Disappointments, we have met with in the 
Colony of Georgia, will naturally sour our Humours, and engage 
us to represent every Thing in the worst Light. 

AS the Probability of those Surmises is very obvious to us, we 
have to the utmost of our Power, guarded against the weak Side 
of ourselves ; and to convince the World of our Sincerity, shall 
no further descend into the Grievances of particular Persons, 
than is absolutely requisite for making our General Narrative 
intelligible ; and to a faithful Detail of Publick Vouchers, Re- 
cords, Extracts, INIissives, Memorials and Representations, shall 
only adjoin so much of History, as may be necessary to recount 
the most material Events, and compleat the Connexion, 

WE are hopeful, that an Information founded upon the strict- 
est Truth, will effectually introduce any further Steps that Pro- 
vidence shall enable us to take towards procuring the Redress of 
our Grievances. Wliile we had the least Hopes of Redress from 
our inniiediate Superiors and Patrons, we ivould not, and when 
we began to dispair of Relief by that Channel, we durst not, 
make Application to any other Tribunal, unless we would expose 
ourselves to the dreadful Effects of the Resentment of those who 
had before reduced us to Poverty by Oppression : And indeed, in 
all the Applications we made for Redress, we were brow-beat, 
obstructed, threatned, and branded with opprobrious Names, 
such as proud, idle, lazy, discontented and mutinous People, and 
several other Appellations of that kind ; and were always after- 
wards harrassed by all Means whatsoever f several Instances of 
which, will appear to the Reader in the Sequel. 

OUR late Retreat from that Confinement, to a Land of 
Liberty, puts it in our Power to speak the Truth ; and tho' our 
Endeavours are too late to relieve the Dead, the Dying, and 



those many now dispersed in all the Corners ol" his Majesty's; 
Dominions ; yet they may be the Means of ushering in Sym- 
pathy and Assistance to the Survivors, and to Multitudes of 
Widows and Orphans of the Deceas'd, from the Humane and 
Generous. 

AS our sole Design is to give a plain Narrative of the Estab- 
lishment and Progress of the Colony of GEORGIA, from it's 
Rise to if s present Period; we shall court no other Oniaments 
than those of Tmth and Perspicuity ; and shall endeavour to 
carry the Reader's Attention regularly, from the first to the last 
Motions we make mention of. 

IN the Year 173-2, His Majesty was pleased to erect, by His 
ROYAL CHARTER, into a separate Province, distinct from 
South- Carolina, that Space of Land lying between the Rivers 
Savannah and Alatamaha, under the Name of GEORGIA. 

AS this Gracious Charter is the Basis and Foundation of all 
the Transactions relating to this Province, which have so much 
amus'd and perplex'd the World, and which our Endeavour is to 
set in a tme Light; we cannot dispense with inserting the 
Charter at large, which we are confident for many Reasons, will 
be acceptable to the Reader. 

' r:jEORGE the Second, by the Grace of GOD of Great 
' ^-^ Britain, France and Ireland, KING, Defender of the 
' Faith, he. To all to whom these Presents shall come, Greet- 
' ing. WHEREAS We are credibly informed. That many ot 
"• Our poor Subjects are, through Misfortunes and Want of Em- 
' ployment, reduced to great Necessity, insomuch as by their 
' Labour they are not able to provide a Maintenance for them- 
' selves and Families ; and if they had Means to defray their 
' Charges of Passage, and other Expences incident to new Set- 

• tlements, they would be glad to settle in any of Our Provinces 
' in America; where, by cultivating the Lands at present waste 
' and desolate, they might not only gain a comfortable Subsistance 
' for themselves and Families ; but also strengtiien Our Colonies, 
' and increase the Trade, Navigation and Wealth of these Our 
' Realms. AND Whereas Our Provinces in North- America. 
' have been frequently ravaged by Indian Enemies ; more espe- 

• cially that of South Carolina; which in the late War, by the 

• Neighbouring Savages, was laid waste by Fire and Sword, and 

■ great Numbers of the English Inliabitants miserably massacred : 

• and Our living Subjects who now inhabit there, by Reason of 

■ the Smallness of their Numbers, will, in Case of a new War, 

■ be exposed to the late Calamities; inasmuch as their whole 

• Southern Frontier continueth unsettled, and lieth open to the 
' said Savages ; AND ivhereas Wo think it highly becoming 



Our Crown and Royal Dignity, to protect all Our loving Sub- 
jects, be they never so distant from Us ; to extend Our Fatherly 
Compassion even to the meanest and most infatuate of Our 
People, and to relieve the Wants of Our above mentioned poor 
Subjects ; and that it will be hiirhly conducive for accomplish- 
ing those Ends, that a regular Colony of the said poor People 
be settled and established in the Southern Territories of Caro- 
lina ; AND Whereas We have been well assured. That if 
We would be graciously pleased to erect and settle a Corpora- 
tion, for the Receiving, Managing and Disposing of the Con- 
tributioils of our loving Subjects ; divers Persons would be in- 
duced to contribute to tlie Purposes aforesaid. KNOW YE 
Therefore, That WE have, for the Consideration aforesaid, and 
for the better and more orderly carrying on the said good Pur- 
poses, of Our special Grace, certain Knowledge, and mere 
Motion, Willed, Ordained, Constituted and Appointed, and by 
these Presents, lor Us, Our Heirs and Successors, do Will, 
Ordain, Constitute, Declare and Grant, That Our Right Trusty 
and Well-beloved John Lord Viscount Purcivol, of Our King- 
dom of Ireland, Our Trusty and Well-beloved Echcard Dighy, 
George Carpenter, James Oglethorpe, George Heathcote, 
Thomas Tower, Robert Moor, Robert Hacks, Roger Holland, 
William Sloper, Francis Eyles, John Laroche, James Vernon^ 
William Belctha, Esqrs, A, M. John Burton, B. D. Richard 
Bnndy, A. M. Arthur Beaford, A. M. Samuel Smith, A. M. 
Adam Anderson, and Thomas Coram, Gentlemen, and such 
other Persons as shall be elected in the Manner herein after 
mentioned, and their Successors to be elected in the Manner 
herein after directed, be, and shall be one Body PoHtick and 
Cor^X)rate, in Deed and in Name, by the Name oi" The Trustees 
for Establishing the Colony of Georgia m America ; and them 
and their Successors by the same Name, We do, by these 
Presents, for Us, Our Heirs and Successors, reall}^ and folly 
Make, Ordain, Constitute and Declare, to be one Body Politick 
in Deed and in Name forever; and that by the same Name, they 
and their Successors, shall and may have perpetual Succession ; 
and that they and their Successors, by that Name, shall and 
may forever hereafter, be Persons able and capable in the Law, 
to purcliase, ha\e, take, receive and enjoy, to them and their 
Successors, any Manors, Messuages, Lands, Tenements, Rents, 
Advowsons, Liberties, Privileges, Jurisdictions, Franchises, and 
other Hereditaments whatsoever, lying and being in Great 
Britain, or any Part thereof, of whatsoever Nature, Kind or 
Quality, or Value they be, in Fee and in Perpetuity ; not ex- 
'"eeding tiie Yearly Value ©f One Thf^ir-^and Povnds, beyond 
r 



Reprises; also Estates for Lives, and for Years; ami all other 
manner of Goods, Chattels and Things whatsoever they be ; 
for the better Settling and Supporting, and Maintaining the said 
Colony, and otjier Uses aforesaid; and to give, grant, let and 
demise the said Manors, ^Messuages, Lands, Tenements, Here- 
ditaments, Goods, Chattels and Things whatsoever aforesaid, 
by Lease or Leases, for Term of Years, in Possession at the 
Time of granting thereof, and not in Reveision, not exceeding 
the Term of Thirty One Years, from the Time of granting 
thereof; on which in case no Fine be taken, shall be reserved 
the Full; and in case a Fine be taken, shall be reserved at least 
a Moiety of the Value that the same shall reasonably and bona 
fide, be worth at the Time of such Demise ; and that they and 
their Successors, by the Name aforesaid, shall and may forever 
hereafter, be Persons able, capable in the Law, to purchase, 
have, take, receive and enjoy, to them and their Successors, 
any Lands, Territories, Possessions, Tenements, Jurisdictions, 
Franchises and Hereditaments whatsoever, lying and being in 
America, of what Quantity, Quality or Value whatsoever they 
be, for the better settling and supporting, and maintaining the 
said Colony ; and that by the Name aforesaid they shall and 
may be able to sue and be sued, plead and be impleaded, an- 
swer and be answered unto, defend and be defended in all 
Courts and places whatsoever, and before whatsoever Judges, 
Justices and other Officers, of Us, Our Heirs and Successors^ 
in all and singidar Actions, Plaints, Pleas, IMatters, Suits and 
Demands, of what Kind, Nature or Quality soever they 
be ; and to act and do all other Matters and Things in as ample 
Manner and Fonn as any other Our liege Subjects of this 
Realm of Great Britain, and that they and their Successors 
forever hereafter, shall and may have a Common Seal to serve^ 
for the Causes and Businesses of them and their Successors ; 
and that it shall and may be lawful for them and their Succes- 
sors, to change, break, alter and make new the said Seal, from 
Time to Time and at their Pleasure, as they shall think best. 
AND We do further s;rant, for Us, Our Heirs and Successors. 
That the said Corporation, and the Common Council of the 
said Corporation herein after by Us appointed, may from Time 
to Time, and at all Times, meet about their Affairs when and 
where they please, and transact and carry on the Business of 
the said Corporation. And for the better Execution of the 
Purposes aforesaid, We do, by these Presents, for Us, Our 
Heirs and Successors, give and grant to the said Corporation, 
and theh* Successors, That they and their Successors forever, 
may upon the third Thursday in the Month of March year- 



^ ly, meet at some convenient Place to be appointed by the 

• said Corporation, or major Part of them who shall be present 

• at any Meeting of the said Corportion, to be had for the ap- 
' pointing of the said Place; and that they, or two Thirds of 
' such of them that shall be present at such Yearly Meeting, 
•' and at no other Meeting of the said Corporation, between the 
' Hours of Ten in the Moping and Four in the Afternoon of 

• the same Day, chuse and elect such Person or Persons to be 

• Members of the said Corporation, as they shall think beneficial 
' to the good Designs of the said Corporation. And Ourjurther 

• Will and Pleasure is, That if it shall happen that any Per- 
' sons herein after by Us appointed as the Common Council 
' of the said Corporation, or any Persons to be elected or ad- 
' mitted Members of the said Common Council in the Manner 
' hereafter directed, shall die, or shall by Writing under his and 
' their Hands respectively resign his or their Office or Offices of 

• Common Council Man or Common Council Men ; the said 
' Corporation, or the major Part of such of them as shall be 

• present, shall and may at such Meeting, on the said third 
' Thursday in March Yearly, in Manner as aforesaid, next 
' after such Death or Resignation, and at no other Meeting of 

• the said Corporation, into the room or place of such Person or 
' Persons so dead or so resigning, elect and chuse one or more 

• such Person or Persons, being Members of the said Corpora- 
' tion, as to them shall seem meet: And Our Willis, That all 

• and every the Person or Persons which shall from Time to 

• Time hereafter be elected Common Council Men of the said 
' Corporation as aforesaid, do and shall, before he or they act as 
' Common Council Men of the said Corporation, take an Oath 
' for the faithful and due Execution of their Office ; which Oath 

• the President of the said Corporation for the Time being, is 
' hereby authorized and required to administer to such Person or 
' Persons elected as aforesaid. And Our Will and Pleasure 
' is, That the first President of the said Corporation is and shall 

• be Our Trusty and Well-beloved the said John Lord Viscount 
' Purcival; and that the said President shall, within Thirty 
' Days after the passing this CHARTER, cause a Summons 
' to be issued to the several Members of the said Corporation 
' herein particularly named, to meet at such Time and Place as 

■ he shall appoint, to consult about and transact the Businesses 
' of the said Corporation. And Our Will and Pleasure is, and 

■ We, by these Presents, for Us, Our Heirs and Successors, 
' grant, ordain and. direct, That the Common Council of this 

• Corporation, shall consist of Fifteen in Number; and We do, 

• by these Presents, nominate, constitute and appoint Our Right 



6 

Trusty and WcU-boloved John Lord Viscount Furcival, Our 
Trusty and Beloved Edward ])ig-i)j/, Cieors;e Carj^niter, 
James Oglethorpe, George lleathcote, Thomas Lnroche, James 
Vernon, fVII/iam Bcktha, Esqrs. and Stephen Hales, Master 
of Arts, to be the Common Council of the said Corporation, 
to continue in the said Office during their good Behaviour. 
AND Whereas it is Our Royal Intention, That the Members 
of the said Corporation shouUl be cncreased by Election, as 
soon as conveniently may be, to a greater Number than is 
hereby nominated; Our further fVill and Fleasure is, and 
We do herchy, for Us, Our Heirs and Successors, ordain and 
direct, That from the Time of sucii Increase of the Members 
of the said Corporation, the Number of the Common Council 
shall be increased to Twenty four : and that the same Assembly 
at which such additional Members of the said Corporation shall 
be chosen, there shall likewise be elected, in the Manner herein 
before directed for the Election of Common Council Men, 
Nine Persons to be the said Common Council Men, and to 
make up the Number Twenty four. And Our further Will 
and Fleasure is. That Our Trusty and Well-beloved Edward 
Digby, Esq. shall be the first Chairman of the Common 
Council of the said Corporation ; and that the said I^ord Vis- 
count Purcival shall be and continue President of the said 
Corporation ; and that the said Edward Digty shall be and 
continue Chairman of the Common Council of the said Cor- 
poration, respectively, until the Meeting which shall be had 
next and inmiediately after the first Meeting of the said Cor- 
poration, or of the Comnion Council of the said Corporation 
respectively, and no longer: At which said second Meeting, 
and every other subsequent and future Meeting of the said 
Corporation, or of the Conmion Council of the said Corpora- 
tion respectively, in order to preserve an indifferent Rotation 
of the several Officers of President of the Corporation, and of 
Chairman of the Common Council of the said Corporation; 
We do direct and ordain, Tiiat all and every the Person and 
Persons Members of the said Common Council for the Time 
being, and no other, being present at such Meetings, shall seve- 
rally and respectively in their Turns, preside at the Meetings 
which shall from Time to Time be held of the said Corpora- 
tion, or of the Common Council of the said Corporation res- 
pectively: And in case any Doubt or Question shall at any 
Time arise toucliing or concerning the Riglit of any Member 
of the said Common Council to jireside, at any Meeting of the 
said Corporation, or at the Common Council of the said Cor- 
poration, the same shall re'=;pectively be df^ermincd by th( 



major part of the said Coi-poration, or of the Common Coiiii- 
cil of the said Corporation respectively, who shall be present 
at such Meetinoj. Frovided always, That no Member of the 
said Common Council having served in the OfRces of Presi- 
dent of the said Corporation, or of Chairman of the Common 
Council of the said Corporation, shall be capable of being or 
of serving as President or Chairman at any Meeting of the 
said Corporation or Common Council of the said Corporation, 
next and immediately ensuing that in which he so served as 
President of the said Corporation, or Chairman of the said 
Common Council of tlie said Corporation respectively; unless 
it shall so happen, that at any such Meeting of the said 
Corporation there shall not be any other Member of the said 
Common Council present. And Our Will and Pleasure is, 
That at all and every of the Meetings of the said Corporation, 
or of the Common Council of the said Corporation the Presi- 
dent or Chairman for the Time being, shall have a Voice and 
shall vote and shall act as a Member of the said Corporation, 
or of the Common Council of the said Corporation, at such 
Meeting; and in case of any Equality of Votes, the said Pre- 
sident or Cliairman for the Time being, shall have a Lasting 
Vote. And Our further Will and Pleasure is, That no 
President of the said Corporation, or Chairman of the Conmion 
Council of the said Corporation, or Member of the said Com- 
mon Council or Corporation, by Us by these Presents appoint- 
ed, or hereafter from Time to time to be elected and appoint- 
ed in manner aforesaid, shall have, take or receive, directly, or 
indirectly any Salary, Fee, Perquisite, Benefit or Profit whatsoe- 
ver, for or by Reason of his or their serving the said Corporation, 
or Common Council of the said Corporation, or President, Chair- 
man or Common Council Man, or as being a Member of the 
said Corporation. And Our will and. Pleasure is, That the 
said herein before appointed President, Chairman or Common 
Council Men, before he and they act respectively as such, shall 
severally take an Oath for the faithful and due Execution of 
their Trust, to be administred to the President by the Chief 
Baron of Our Court of Exchequer, for the Time being, and 
by the President of the said Corporation to the rest of the 
Common Council, who are hereby authorized severally and 
respectively, to administer the same. And Our Will and 
Pleasure is. That all and every Person and Persons who shall 
have, in his or their own Name or Names, or in the Name 
or Names of any Person or Persons in Trust for him or them, 
or for his or their Benefit, any Office, Place or Employment of 
Profit, under the said Corporation, shall be incapable of being 



electod a iNIeiuber of the said Corporation ; and it' any Member 
of the said Corporation, during such Time as he shall continue 
a Member liiereof, siiall in his own Name, or in the Name ol 
any Person or Persons in Trust for him, or for his Benefit, 
liave, hold, exercise, accept, possess or enjoy any Office, Place 
or Employment of Profit under the said Corporation, or under 
the Common Council of the said Corporation ; such Member 
shall from the Time of his having, holding, exercising, accept- 
ing, possessing and enjoying such Office, Place and Employ- 
ment of Profit, cease to be a Member of the said Corporation. 
ylnd Wc do, for Us, Our Heirs and Successors, grant unto 
the said Corporation and their Successors, That they and their 
Successors, or the major part of such of them as shall be 
present at any Meeting of the said Corporation, conven'd and 
assembled for that Purpose by a convenient Notice thereof, 
shall have Power from Time to Time and at all Times 
hereafter, to authorize and appoint such Persons as they 
shall think fit, to take Subscriptions, and to gather and col- 
lect such Monies as shall be by any Person or Persons con- 
tributed for the Purposes aforesaid, and shall and may revoke 
and make void such Authorities and Appointments as often 
as they shall see Cause so to do. And, Wc do hereby, for 
Us, our Heirs and Successors, ordain and direct, That the said 
Corporation every Year lay an Account in Writing before the 
Chancellor or SpeaTier or Commissioners for the Custody of 
the Great Seal of Great Britain, of Us, Our Heirs and Suc- 
cessors, the Chief Justice of the Court of Kings-Bench, the 
Master of the Rolls, the Chief Justice of the Court of Com- 
mon-Fleas, and the Chief Baron of the Exchequer, of Us, 
Our Heirs and Successors, for the Time being, or any Tivo o( 
them, of all Monies and Effects by them received or expended 
for the carrying on the good Purposes aforesaid. And Wc 
do hereby, for Us, Our Heirs and Successors, give and grant 
unto the said Corporation and their Successors, full Power and 
Authority to constitute, ordain and make such and so many 
By-Laws, Constitutions, Orders and Ordinances, as to them 
or the greater part of them, at their General Meeting for that 
Purpose, shall seem necessary and convenient for the well 
Ordering and Governing of the said Corporation, and the said 
By-Laws, Constitutions, Orders and Ordinances, or any of 
them, to alter and annul as they or the major part of them 
then present shall see requisite ; and in and by such By-Jjaivs, 
Rules, Orders and Ordinances, to set, impose and inflict rea- 
sonable Pains and Penalties upon any Offender or Offenders 
who shall transgress, break or violate the said By Laws. 



9 

Constitutions, Orders and Ordinances, so made as aforesaid, 
and to mitigate the same as they or the major part of them 
then present shall think convenient ; which said Pains and 
Penalties shall and may be levied, sued for, taken, retained 
and recovered by the said Corporation and their Successors, 
by their Officers and Servants from Time to Time to be 
appointed for that Purpose, by Action of Debt, or by any 
other lawful Ways or Means, to the Use and Behoof of the 
said Corporation and their Successors; all and singular which 
By-haws, Constitutions, Orders and Ordinances, so as afore- 
said to be made, WE WILL, shall be duly observed and kept, 
under the Pains and Penalties therein to be contained, so always, 
as the said By-Laws, Constitutions, Orders and Ordinances, 
Pains and Penalties, from Time to Time to ])e made and impos- 
ed, be reasonable, and not contrary or repugnant to the Laws or 
Statutes of this Our Realm ; and tliat such By-Laws, Constitu- 
tions and Ordinances, Pains and Penalties, from Time to Time 
to be made and imposed ; and any Repeal or Alteration thereof, 
or any of them, be likewise agreed to, be established and con- 
firmed by the said General Meeting of the said Corporation, to 
be held and kept next after the same shall be respectively made. 
AND WHEREAS the said Corporation intend to settle a 
Colony, and to make an Habitation and Plantation in that Part 
of Our Province of South- Carolina in America, herein after 
described; KNOW YE, That We, greatly desiring the happy 
Success of the said Corporation, /or their further Encouras^c- 
ment in accomplishing so excellent a Work, Have, of Our 
'foresaid Grace, certain Knowledge, and mere Motion, Given 
and Granted, and by these Presents, for Us, Our Heirs and 
Successors, do Give and Grant to the said Corporation and 
their Successors, under the Reservation, Limitation and Decla- 
ration hereafter expressed, Seven undivided Parts, the Whole 
in Eight equal Parts to be divided, of all those Lands, Coun- 
tries and Territories situate, lying and being in that Part of 
South- Carolina, in America, which lies from the most Northern 
part of a Stream or River there, commonly called The Savan- 
nah, all along the Sea Coast to the Southward, unto the most 
Southern Stream of a certain other great Water or River call- 
ed Tlie Alatamaha, and Westerly from the Heads of the said 
Rivers respectively in direct Lines to the South Seas; and all 
that Share, Circuit and Precinct of Land within the said Boun- 
daries, with the Islands on the Sea lying opposite to the Eastern 
Coast of the said Lands, within Twenty Leagues of the same, 
wliich are not inhabited already, or settled by any Authority 
derived from the Crown ©f Great Britain, together with all 



iO 

the Soils. Grounds, Havens, Ports, Gulphs and Bay:?, Mine.-, 
as well Royal jMines of Gold and Silver as other Minerals, 
precious Stones, Quarries, Woods, Rivers, Waters, Fishings, 
as well Royal Fishings of Whale and Sturgeon as other Fishings, 
Pearls, Commodities, Jurisdictions, Royalties, Franchises, Pri- 
vileges and Pre-eminencies within the said Frontiers and 
Precincts thereof, and thereunto in any sort belonging or 
appertaining, and which We by Our Letter Patents may or can 
grant ; and in as ample Manner and Sort as We may, or any 
Our Royal Progenitors have hitherto granted to any Company, 
Body, Politick or Corporate, or to any Adventurer or Adven- 
turers, Undertaker or Undertakers of any Discoveries, Planta- 
tions or Traflick of, in, or unto, an\^ Foreign Parts whatsoever, 
and in as legal and ample Manner as if the same were herein 
particularly mentioned and expressed : To have, hold, possess 
and enjoy the said Seven undivided Parts, the Whole into 
Eight equal Parts to be divided as aforesaid, of all and singu- 
lar the Lands, Countries and Territories, with all and singular 
other the Premises herein bel'ore by these Presents granted, or 
mentioned or intended to be granted to them the said Corpora- 
tion and their Successors, /or cue/*, for the better Support of 
the said Colony ; to be holden of Us, Our Heirs and Succes- 
sors, as of Our Honour of Hampton- Court, in Our County of 
Middlesex, in free and common Soccage, and not in Cai)ite ; 
Yielding and Paying therefor to Us, Our Heirs and Succes- 
sors, Yearly for ever, the Sum of Four Shillings for every 
Hundred Acres of the said Lands which the said Cbrporation 
shall grant, demise, plant or settle ; the said Payment not to 
commence or to be made until Ten Years after such Grant, 
Demise, Planting or Settling, and to be answered and paid to 
Us, Our Heirs and Successors, in such Manner, and in such 
Species of Money or Notes as shall be current in Payment 
by Proclamation from Time to Time in Our said Province of 
South Carolina; all which Lands, Countries, Territories and 
Premises hereby granted, or mentioned and intended to be 
granted. We do, by these Presents, maJce, erect and create, 
One independant and separate Province by the Name of 
GEORGIA, by which Name, WE WILL, the same hence- 
forth be called ; and that all and every Person or Persons who 
shall at any Time hereafter inhabit or reside within Our said 
Province, shall be and are hereby declared to be fi-ee, and shall 
not be subject to or be bound to obey any Laws, Orders, 
Statutes or Constitutions which have been heretofore made, 
ordered and enacted, or which hereafter shall be made, ordered 
or enacted by, for or as the La\vs, Orders, Statutes or Consti- 



11 ^ 

hitions of Our said Province of South- Cardlina (save and 
except only the Command in Chief of the Militia of Our said 
Province of Georgia, to Our Governor for the Time beinn- 
of South-Carolina, in Manner hereafter declared) but shall be 
subject to and bound to obey such Laws, Orders, Statutes and 
Constitutions as shall from Time to Time be made, ordered and 
enacted, for the better Government of the said Province of 
Georgia, in the Manner herein after declared. And We do 
hereby, for Us, Our Heirs and Successors, ordain, ivill and 
establish, That for and during the Term of Twenty-one Years, 
to commence from tlie Date of these Our Letters Patent, the 
said Corporation assembled for that Purpose, shall and may 
form and prepare Laws, Statutes and Ordinances, fit and ne- 
cessary for and concerning the Government of the said Colony, 
and not repugnant to the Laws and Statutes of England, and 
the same shall and may present, under their Common Seal, to 
Us, Our Heirs and Successors, in Our or Their Privy Council, 
for Our or Their Approbation or Disallowance ; and the said 
Laws, Statutes and Ordinances being approved of by Us, Our 
Heirs and Successors, in Our or Their Privy-Council, shall 
from thenceforth be in full Force and Virtue within Our said 
Province of Georgia. AND FORASMUCH ^s the good 
and prosperous Success of the said Colony, cannot but chiefly 
depend, next under the Blessing of GOD and the Support of 
Our Royal Authorit}', upon the provident and good Direction 
of the whole Enter prize ; and that it Avill be too great a Bur- 
then upon all the ^Iembers of the said Corporation, to be con- 
vened so often as may be requisite to hold Meetings for the 
Settling, Supporting, Ordering and IMaintaining the said Co- 
lony: Therefore JVe do ivill, ordain and establish. That the 
said Common Council for the Time being, of the said Corpo- 
ration, being Assembled for that Purpose, or the major part of 
them, shall from Time to Time and at all Times hereafter, have 
full Power and Authority to dispose of, extend and apply all 
the Monies and Effects belonging to the said Corporation, in 
such Manner and Ways, and by such Expences as they shall 
think best to conduce to the carrying on and effecting the good 
Purposes herein mentioned and intended: And also, shall 
have full Power, in the Name and on the Account of the said 
Corporation, and with and under their Common Seal, to enter 
under any Covenants or Contracts for carrying on and effecting 
the Purposes aforesaid. And Our further Will and Pleasure 
is, That the said Common Council for the Time being, or the 
major part of such Common Council which shall be present and 
assembled for that Purpose, from Time to Time and at all 



u 

Times hereafter, shall and may nominate, constitute and appoint 
a Treasurer or Treasurers, Secretary or Secretaries, and such 
other Officers, iNIinisters and Servants of the said Corporation, 
as to them or tlie major part of them as shall be present shall 
seem proper or re(juisito for the ^ood Management of their 
Affairs; and at their Will and Pleasure to displace, remove and 
put out such Treasurer or Treasurers, Secretary or Secretaries, 
and all such other Officers, Ministers and Servants, as often as 
they shall think tit so to do, and others in the Rooni, Office^ 
Place or Station of him or them so displaced, removed or put 
out, to nominate, constitute and appoint; and shall and may 
determine and appoint such reasonable Salaries, Perquisites and 
other Rewards for their Labour, or Service of such Officers, 
Servants and Persons, as to the said Common Council shall 
seem meet; and all such Officers, Servants and Persons shall, 
before the actini; their respective Offices, take an Oath, to be 
to them administred by the Chairman for the Time being of the 
said Common Council of the said Corporation, who is hereb}' 
authorized to administer the same, for the faithful and due 
Execution of their respective Offices and Places. And Our 
Will and Pleasure is, That all such Person and Persons wlia 
shall from Time to Time be chosen or appointed Treasurer or 
Treasurers, Secretary or Secretaries of the said Corporation, in 
Manner herein after directed, shall, during such Times as they 

■ shall serve in the said Offices respectively, be incapable of 
' being a Member of the said Corporation. And We do further^ 

■ of Our special Grace, certain Knowledge and mere Blotion, for 

• Us, Our Heirs and Successors, grant, by these Presents, to 

■ the said Corporation and their Successors, That it shall be 

• lawful for them and their Officers or Agents, at all Times 
' hereafter, to transport and convey out of Our Realm of Great 

• Britain, or any other Oiu- Dominions, into the said Province 
' of Georgia, to be there settled, and so many of Our loving 

• Subjects, or any Foreigners that are willing to become Our 
' Subjects and live under Our Allegiance in the said Colony, as 
' shall be willing to go to inhabit or reside there, with sufficient 
' Shipping, Armour, Weapons, Powder, Shot, Ordnance, Muni- 
' tion. Victuals, Merchandize and Wares, as are esteem'd by the 
' loild People, Cloathing, Implements, Furniture, Cattle, Horses, 
' Mares, and all other Things necessary for the said Colony, and 
' for the Use and Defence, and Trade with the People there, 
' and in passing and returning to and from the same. Also We 
* do, for Ourselves and Successors, declare, by these Presents, 
' That all and every the Persons which shall happen to be bom 
' within the said Province, and every of their Children and 



13 

Posterity, shall have and enjoy all Liberties, Franchises and 
Immunities of Free Deiiizons and Natural Born Subjects, 
within any of Our Dominions, to all Intents and Purposes, as 
if abiding and born within this Our Kingdom of Great-Britain, 
or any other Domhiion. AND for the greater Ease and 
Encouragement of Our loving Subjects, and such others as shall 
come to inhabit in Our said Colony, fVe do, by these Presents, 
for Us, Our Heirs and Successors, grant, establish and ordain, 
That for ever hereafter, there shall be a LIBERTY OF CON- 
SCIENCE allowed in the IVorship of GOD, to all Persons 
inhabiting or which shall inhabit or be resident within Our 
said Pro\'ince, and that all such Persons, except Papists, shall 
have a free Exercise of Religion ; so they be contented with 
the quiet and peaceable Enjoyment of the same, not giving 
Offence or Scandal to the Government. And Our further 
Will and Pleasure is, and We do hereby, for Us, Our Heirs 
and Successors, declare and grant. That it shall and may be 
lawful for the said Common Council, or the major part of them 
assembled for that Purpose, in the Name of the Corporation, 
and under the Common Seal, to distribute, convey, assign and 
set over such particular Portions of Lands, Tenements and 
Hereditaments by these Presents granted to the said Corpora- 
tion, unto such of Our loving Subjects Naturally born or 
Denizons, or others, that shall be willing to become Our Sub- 
jects, and live under Our Allegiance in the said Colony, upon 
such Terms, and for such Estates, and upon such Rents, Reser- 
vations and Conditions as the same may be lawfully granted, 
and as to the said Common Council, or the major part of them 
so present, shall seem fit and proper. Provided ahvays, That 
no Grants shall be made of any Part of the said Lands unto 
any Person being a Member of the said Corporation, or to 
any other Person in Trust for the Benefit of any Member of 
the said Corporation ; and that no Person having any Estate or 
Interest in Law or Equity in any Part of the said Lands, shall 
be capable of being a Member of the said Corporation, during 
the Continuance of such Estate or Interest. Provided also, 
That no greater Quantity of Lands be granted, either entirely 
or in parcels, to or for the Use or in Trust for any one Person 
than Five Hundred Acres ; and that all Grants made contrary 
to the true Intent and Meaning hereof, shall be absolutely null 
and void. And We do hereby grant and ordain. That such 
Person or Persons for the Time being, as shall be thereunto 
appointed by the said Corporation, shall and may at all Times, 
and from Time to Time hereafter, have full Power and Author- 
ity to administer and gi\e the Oaths appointed by an Act of 



14 

Parliament vaade in the First Year of the Reign of Our late 
Royal Father, to l)e taken instead of iha Oaths of Allegiance 
and Suprcmaci/ ; and also the Oath of Abjuration, to all and 
every Person and Persons which shall at any Time be inhabit- 
ing or residing within Our said Colony ; and in like Cases to 
administer the solcnm Affirmation to any of the Persons com- 
monly called Quakers, in such Manner as by the Laws of Our 
Realm of Great Britain the same may be administred. And 
We do, of Our further Grace, certain Knowledge and mere 
Motion, grant, establish and ordain, for Us, Our Heirs and 
Successors, That the said Corporation and their Successors, 
shall have full Power and Authority for and during the Term 
of Txventy one Years, to commence from the Date of these 
Our Letters Patent, to erect and constitute Judicaturies and 
Courts of Record, or other Courts, to be held in the Name of 
Us, Our Heirs and Successors, for the Hearing and Determin- 
ing of all Manner of Crimes, Offences, Pleas, Processes, Plaints, 
Actions, Matters, Causes and Things whatsoever, arising or 
happening within the said Province of Georgia or between Per- 
sons of Georgia ; whether the same be criminal or civil, and 
whether the said Crimes be Capital or not Capital, and whether 
the said Pleas be real, personal or mired; and for Awarding and 
Making out Executions thereupon ; To which Courts and Judi- 
caturies, We do hereby, for Us, Our Heirs and. Successors, ^?'i'c 
onflfo-rawi full Power and Authority, from Time to Time, to ad- 
minister Oaths ibr the Discovery of Truth, in any Matter in con- 
troversy or depending before them, or the solemn Ajfirmation to 
any of the Persons commonly called Quakers, m such Manner 
as by the Laws of Our Realm of Great Britain the same may 
be administred. And Our further Will and Pleasure is, 
That the said Corporation and their Successors, do from Time 
to Time and at all Times hereafter. Register or cause to be Re- 
gistered all such Leases, Grants, Plantings, Conveyances, Set- 
tlements and Improvements whatsoever, as shall at any Time- 
hereafter be made by or in the Name of the said Corporation, 
of any Lands, Tenements or Hereditaments within the said 
Province; and shall Yearly send and transmit, or cause to be 
sent or transmitted, authentick Accounts of such Leases, Grants, 
Conveyances, Settlements and Improvements respectively, 
imto the Auditor of the Plantations for the Time being, or his 
Deputy, and also to Our Surveyor for the Time being of Our 
said Province of South- Carolina, to whom We do hereby grant 
full Power and Authority from Time to Time, as often as Need 
shall require, to hispect and survey such of the said Lands and 
Premises <\s shall be demised, granted and settled as aibresaiil , 



15 

wliich said Survey and Inspection, IVe do hereby dectat'e {ohe 
intended to ascertain the Quit-Rents which shall from Time to 
Time become due to Us, Our Heirs and Successors, according 
to the Reservations herein before mentioned, and for no other 
Purposes whatsoever ; hereby, for Us, Our Heirs and Succes- 
sors ; strictly enjoyning and commanding. That neither Our or 
Their Surveyor, or any Person whatsoever, under the Pretext 
and Colour of making the said Survey or Inspection, shall tak&, 
demand or receive any Gratuity, Fee or Reward of or from 
any Person or Persons inhabiting in the said Colony, or from 
the said Corporation or Common Council of the same, on the 
Pain of Forefeiture of the said Office or Offices, and incur- 
ring Our highest Displeasure. Provided always, and Our 
further Will and Pleasure is, That all Leases, Grants and 
Conveyances to be made by or in the Name of the said Corpo- 
ration, of any Lands within the said Province, or a Memorial 
containing the Substance and Effect thereof, shall be registered 
w'ith the Auditor of the said Plantations, of Us, Our Heirs 
and Successors, within the Space of One Year, to be computed 
from the Date thereof, otherwise the same shall be void. 
And Our further Will and Pleasure is, That the Rents, 
Issues and all other Profits which shall at any Time hereafter 
come to the said Corporation, or the major part of them which 
shall be present at any Meeting for that Purpose assembled, 
shall think will most improve and enlarge the said Colony, 
and best answer the good Purposes herein before mentioned, 
and for defraying all other Charges about the same. And. Our 
Will and Pleasure is, That the said Corporation and their 
Successors, shall from Time to Time give in to one of the 
Principal Secretaries of State and to the Commissioners of 
Trade and Plantations, Accounts of the Progresses of the said 
Colony. And Our Will and Pleasure is, That no Act done 
at any Meeting of the said Common Council of the said Cor- 
poration, shall be effectual and valid, unless Eight Members 
at least of the said Common Council, including the Member 
who shall serve as Chairman at the said Meeting, be present, 
and the major part of them consenting thereunto. And Oui* 
Will and Pleasure is, That the Common Council of the said 
Corporation for the Time being, or the major part of them 
who shall be present, being assembled for that Purpose, 
shall from Time to Time, for and during and unto the full 
End and Expiration of Twenty One Years, to connnence 
from the Date of these Our Letters Patent, have full Power 
and Authority to nominate, make, constitute, commission, 
ordain and appoint, by such Name or Names, Stile or Stiles, 



as lo ihem shall seem meet and lilting, all and singular sucU 
Governours, Judges, Magistrates, jMinisters and Officers, Civil 
and Military, both by Sea and Land, within the said Districts, 
as shall by them be thought fit and needful to be made or used 
for the said Government of the said Colony ; save always and 
exce[)t such Officers only as shall by Us, Our Heirs and Suc- 
cessors, be from Time to Time constituted and appointed, for 
the Managing, collecting and Receiving such Revenues as shall 
from Time to Time arise within the said Province of Georgia, 
and be(;ome due to Us, Our Heirs and Successors. Provided 
always, and it is Our Will and Pleasure, That every Go- 
vernor of the said Province of Georgia, to be appointed by the 
Common Council of the said Corporation, l)efore he shall enter 
upon or execute the said Office of Governor, shall be approved by 
Us, Our Heirs, or Successors, and shall take such Oaths and shall 
qualify himself in such Manner in all Respects, as any Govern- 
or or Commander in Chief of any of Our Colonies or Planta- 
tions in America, are by Law required to do ; and shall give 
good and sufficient Security for- observing the several Acts of 
Parliament relating to Trade and Navigation , and to observe 
and obey all Instructions that shall be sent to him by Us, Our 
Heirs and Successors, or any acting under Our or Their Authori- 
ty, pursuant to the said Acts, or any of them. And We do, 
by these Presents, for Us, Our Heirs and Successors, will, grant 
and ordain. That the said Corporation and their Successors, 
shall have full Power for and during and until the full End and 
Term of Twenty One Years, to commence from the Date of 
these Our Letters Patent, by any Commander or other Offi- 
cer or Officers by them for that Purpose from Time to Time 
appointed, to train, instruct, exercise and govern a Militia for the 
special Defence and Safety of Our said Colony, to assemble in 
Martial-Array, the Inhabitants of the said Colony, and to lead 
and conduct them, and with them to encounter, expulse, repel 
resist and pursue, by Force of Arms, as well by Sea as by Land 
within or Without the Limits of Our said Colony ; and also to 
kill, slay and destroy, and conquer, by all fighting Ways, Enter- 
prizes and Means whatsoever, all and every such Person or Per- 
sons as shall at any Time hereafter in any hostile Manner attempt 
or enterprize the Destruction, Invasion, Detriment or Annoyance 
of Our said Colony ; and to use and exercise the Martial-Law 
in Time of actual War and Invasion or Rebellion, in such 
Cases where by Law the same may be used or exercised ; and 
also from Time to Time to erect Forts and fortify any Place 
or Places within Our said Colony, and the same to furnish with 
all necessary Ammunition, Provisions and Stores of War, for 



17 

Ofience and Defence, and to commit from Time to Time the Cus*^^ 
tody or Government of the same to such Person or Persons as to 
them shall seem meet ; and the said Forts and Fortifications to 
demolish at their Pleasure; and to take and surprize, by all 
Ways and Means, all and every such Person or Persons, with 
their Ships, Arms, Ammunition and other Goods, as shall in an 
hostile Manner invade or attempt the Invadint^^, Conquering or 
Annoying of Our said Colony. And Our Will and Pleasure 
7*6t, and We do hereby, for Us, Our Heirs and SuccessorSj 
declare and, grant, That the Governor and Commander in Chief 
of the Province of South- Carolina, of Us, Our Heirs and 
Successors, for the Time being, shall at all Times hereafter 
have the chief Command of the Militia of Our said Province 
hereby erected and established ; and that such Militia shall 
observe and obey all Orders and Directions that shall from Time 
to Time be given or sent them by the said Governor or Com- 
mander in Chief, any Thing in these Presents before contained 
to the Contrary hereof in any wise notwithstanding. And, of 
Our more special Grace, certain Knowledge and mere Motion. 
We have given and granted, and by these Presents, for Us. 
Our Heirs and Successors, do give and grant unto the said 
Corporation and their Successors, foil Power and Authority to 
import and export their Goods at and from any Port or Ports 
that shall be appointed by Us, Our Heirs and Successors^ 
within the said Province of Georgia for that Purpose, without 
being obliged to touch at any other Port in South- Carolina. 
And We do, by these Presents, for Us, Our Heirs and Succes- 
sors, will and declare, That from and after the Determination 
of the said Term of One and Tiventij Years such Form of 
Government and Method of making Laws, Statutes and Ordi- 
nances, for the better Governing and Ordering the said Pro- 
vince of Georgia, and the Inhabitants thereof shall be estab- 
lished and observed within the same, as We, Our Heirs and 
Successors, shall hereafter ordain and appoint, and shall be 
agreeable to Law ; and that from and after the Detei-mination 
' of the said Tenn of One and Tiventy Years, the Governor of 
Our said Province of Georgia, and all Officers Civil and 

■ Military within the same, shall from Time to Time be nomina- 
' ted and constituted and appointed by Us, Our Heirs and Suc- 
■' cessors. AND LASTL Y, We do hereby, for Us, Our Heirs 
' and Successors, grant unto the said Corporation and their 
' Successors, That these Our Letters Patent, or the Enrollments 
' or Exemplification thereof, shall be in and by all Things, good, 

■ firm, valid, sufficient and effectual in the Law, according to the 
• true Intent and Meaning thereof, and shall be taken, construed 
' and adjudged in all Courts and elsewhere, in the most favour- 



18 

' able and beneficial Sense, and for the best Advantac^e of iht'' 

*' said C'Oiporalion and their Successors, any Omission, Imperfec- 

' tion. Defect, Matter or Cause or Thin^^ whatsoever to th6 

' Contrary in any wise nolwithstanfhng. IjS IVITNESS We 

' have caused these Our Letters to be made Fatent. Witness 

* Oar Self at Westminster^) the Ninth Day of June, in the 

* Fifth Year of Our Reign. 

By Writ of Privy Seal. 

COOKS. 

THE gracious Purposes and ample Privileges contain'd in the 
foregoing CHARTER, arc so obvious to every Reader, that we 
need only say, they were suitable to a most generous and humane 
British Monarch ; and had thd Settlement of the Colony of 
Georgia been carried on conformable thereto, and no other 
Restrictions or Reservations made, than what are therein men- 
tioned; then would the Colony at this Time have been in a 
flourishing Condition, answerable to all those glorious Ends that 
were proposed and expected from it: But on the Contrary, Laws 
and Restrictions being made, such as were never heard of in any 
British Settlement, the Colony is brought to the present melan- 
choly Situation. But we shall say no more at present on this 
Head, than what INIr. Oglethorpe said in Parliament relating to 
the Chai'itable Corporation, viz. * The better the Design was, 
the more those deserve to be punished ivho have disappointed the 
Publiclc of Reaping the Benefts that might have accrued from it. 

INHABITANTS of all sorts, Roman Catholicks only except- 
ed, from all Parts of the World, were invited to possess thi^ 
promised Land; and large Sums of Money from the Parliament, 
as well as Contributions from private and publick Charity, wer6 
collected; the County was laid out as an Earthly Paradise; the 
Soil far surpassing that of England ; the Air healthy, always 
serene, pleasant and temperate, never subject to excessive Heat 
or Cold, nor to sudden Changes. 

IT was particularly set forth, and with a Shew of Reason 
enough, that this proposed Settlement could not fail of succeed- 
ing, when the Nation was so bountiful; the King so gracious ; 
II the Tmstees so disinterested and honourable, who had, for the 
Benefit of Mankind, given up that Ease and Indolence to \\hich 
they were entitled by their Fortunes and the too prevalent 
Custom of their Native Country ; and withal, being able, by seeing 
the Mistakes and Failures of other Colonies, both to avoid and 



* Vide Lnnd. Mag. p. 379. 

(1 Vide a Pamphlet, entitled, A new and accurate Account of the Provineetof 
South Carolina and Georgia, 



19 

vyctify them; and lastly, the universal Report of Mr. Ogh- 
thorpcs matchless Humanity and Generosity, who was to Conduct 
the first Embarkation, and who was, in all Appearance, to undergo 
tlie greatest Hardships, without any other View than to succour 
the Distress'd ; and despising Interest or Riches, was to venture 
his Life, his All, in establishing the intended Settlement. Glo- 
rious Presages of the liiture Happiness of that Colony ! Irre- 
sistable Temptations to those, whose Genius or Circumstances 
led them to leave their Native Country ! 

NO Wonder then, that great Numbers of poor Subjects, who 
lay under a Cloud of Misfortunes, embraced the Opportunity of 
once more tasting Liberty and Happiness; that Jews, attracted 
by the Temptation of Inheritances, flock'd over; that Germans, 
oppress'd and dissatisfied at Home, willingly join'd in the Adven- 
ture, some as Settlers, and others as Servants to the Trustees; 
and lastly, that great Numbers of Gentlemen of some Stock and 
Fortune, willingly expended Part of the same, in purchasing 
Servants, Tools, Commodities and other Necessaries, to intitic 
them to such respective Proportions of Land, as the Trustees 
had thought proper to determine, and such Liberties and Proper- 
ties as they had Reason to expect from his Majesty's most gra- 
cious Charter: But how much they were all disappointed, the 
Sequel will sliew. The First Thing that was done, was the 
Circumscribing the Rights and Titles given by his Majesty, and 
making many other various Restrictions, Services and Conditions, 
impossible for any human Person to perform ; a few of which we 
shall here enumerate: In the first Place, there was an excessive 
Quit-Rent laid upon the Land, being a great Deal more than his 
Majesty's Subjects in the other British Colonies pay, viz. Twen- 
ty Shitiings Sterling for every Hundred Acres, to be paid yearly ; 
and if it, or any Part thereof, should be behind and unpaid by the 
Space of six Calender Months next after any Day of Payment 
on which the same became due, then the Land was forfeited and 
retum'd to the Trustees ; as it likewise did upon Failure in any 
of the following Conditions, viz. One Thousand Mulberry Trees 
always to be growing on every Hundred Acres ; No Partnership 
or Company to be enter'd into for making Pot- Ash ; Not to assign 
or transfer the Land, or any Part or Parcel thereof, or any Estate 
or Interest in the same, for any Term of Years ; Not to hire, 
keep, lodge, board or employ, within the Limits of the Province, 
any Black or Negro ; and if the Person holding Land should die 
without Issue Male, or his Heirs at any Time should die without 
Issue Male, in that Case likewise, the whole Land was forfeited 
and reverted to the Tmstees ; and if any Part or Parcel of any 
of the Five Hundred Aero Tracts, sliould remain not cultivated, 



clear'd, planted and iinprov'd after the Space of Eighteen Yeaxs. 
j^uch Part to return to the Trustees. These were the chief 
Restrictions in all the Grants of Lands, which appeared ver) 
Jiard even to Strangers, who had not yet felt them, and who were 
ignorant of the Climate and INiature of the Place; but when an) 
one complained of the Hardships of them, lo paliate the Matter, 
it was given out, that Negroes were entirely useless and unprofit- 
able, Wine, Silk, Olives, Gardens and Manufactures for Women 
and Children, were the intended Improvements of the Colony, 
that the Restriction of the Rights of Lands, were only tempo- 
rary, to prevent the Bartering or Selling them by the unthinking 
People, at an Undervalue ; and concerning the Want of Male 
Issue, it was asserted, that the Trustees being duly petitioned, 
w^ould grant Continuation of the Land to the eldest Daughter, if 
any, ^c. upon their good * liehaviour: That the Laws of Evg- 
laml, and the Administration of Justice, in the most impartial 
Manner, and most adapted to the Nature of a Free British 
Government, should be ever secur'd to the Inhabitants. 

THE First of February, 1732-3, Mr. Oglethorpe arrived at 
Georgia with the first Embarkation, consisting of JPor^y Families, 
making upwards of One Hundred Persons, all brought over and 
supported at the Publick Charge. The First Thing he did after 
he arrived in Georgia, was to 7na]{;e a kind of solemn Treaty 
with a Parcel of fugitive Indians, who had been formerly banish- 
ed theii- own Nation for some Crimes and Misdemeanours they 
had committed, and w'ho had, some Months before this, got 
Liberty from the Governor of South- Carolina, to settle there, 
t Some of these he afterwards carried Home with him under the 
Title of Kings, ^'■c. and all of them have been ever since main- 
tain'd at the Pubhck Charge, at vast Expence, when many poor 
Christians were starving in the Colony for Want of Bread ; and 
we may safely affirm, (and appeal to the Store-Books for the 
Truth of it) that a larger Sum of Money has been expended for 
the Support of those useless Vagrants, than ever was laid out for 
the Encouragement of Silk, Wine, or any other Manufacture in 
the Colony. 

SECONDLY, He 'prohibited the Importation of Rum, under 
Pretence, that it was destructive to the Constitution, and an 
Incentive to Debauchery and Idleness: How^ever specious these 
Pretences might seem, a little Experience soon convinced us. 



* How precarious must this Security be to sucli unfortunate Persons, when 
th^ir Behaviour must he judged of by Infoi'tnation and RepresentRtion ? 

+They built a small Numher of Huts on a Bluncalled Yamacrav). Umanna-' 
now staniis on the same Bluft', 



^21 

that this Restriction was directly opposite to the Well-being ol 
the Colony: For in the first Place, we were cut off from the most 
innnediate and probable Way of exporting our Timber (the only 
poor Propect of Export that we could ever flatter ourselves 
with) to the Sugar Islands, Rum being; the principal Return they 
make: In the second Place, the Experience of all the Inhabitants 
of America, will prove the Necessity of Qualifying Water with 
some Spirit, (and it is very certain, that no Province in ylmen'm 
yields Jfatcr that such a Qualification is more necessary to than 
Carolina and Georgia) and the Usefulness of this Experiment 
has been sufficiently evident to all the Inhabitants of Georgia 
who could procure it, and use it with Moderation : A third Rea- 
son which made this Restriction very hurtful to the Colony, was, 
That tho' the Laws were in force against it, (which put it in the 
Power of Magistrates to lay Hardships upon every Person who 
might be otherwise under their Resentment) yet great Quantities 
were imported,* only with this Difference, that in Place of 
Barter or Exchange, the Ready Money was drain'd from the 
Inhabitants: And likewise, as it is the Nature of Mankind m 
general, and of the common Sort in particular, more eagerly to 
desire, and more immoderately to use, those Things which are 
most restrained from them ; such was the Case with respect to 
Rum in Georgia. 

THE THIRD Thing he did, was regularly to set out to each 
Free-holder in Savannah, Lots of Fifty Acres, in three distinct 
Divisions, viz. The Eighth Part of One Acre for a House and 
Garden in the Town ; Four Acres and seven-eighths, at a small Dis- 
tance from Town ; and Fort)/ five Acres at a considerable Remove 
from thence. No regard was had to the Qualiti/ of the Ground 
in the Divisions, so that some were altogether Pine Barren, and 
some Swamp and INIorass, far sur})assing the Strength and Ability ot 
the Planter : And indeed, what could be done at any Rate, with 
such small Parcels of Land separate from one another: These 
Lots were likewise shaped in long pointed Triangles, which con- 
^siderably increas'd the Extent of Inclosure, and rendered great 
Part of each Lot entirely useless. But these and many other 
Hardships were scarcely felt by the few People that came there, 
so long as Mr. Oglethorpe staid, which was about Fifteen 
Months: They work'd hard indeed, in Building some Houses 
in Town ; but then they labour'd in common, and were likewise 
assisted by Negroes from Carolina, who did the heaviest Work: 
But at -j-Mr. Oglethorpe' s going to England, the growing Fame 



* Vis. From Carolina and J^ew England, who would take Money only, 

t Befoip he lieparteii, a Vessel with about Iwtnly Families of Jewi arrived, 



22 

of the Colony was thereby greatly increased, i^o that as it ha^ 
been before observ'd, People, in Abundance, from all Parts of 
the World, flock'd to Georgia. Tiien they began to consider, 
and endeavour, every one according; to his Genius or Abilities, 
how they might best subsist themselves. Some, with great La- 
bour and Expence, essayed the Making of *Tarr : Tiiis, a? 
'tis well known to the Trustees, never quitted Costs: Others 
tried to ntakc plaiJcJc and saw Boni-ds ; which, by the great Price 
they were obliged to sell them at, by Reason of the great Ex- 
pence of white Servants, was the chief Means of ruining those 
who thought to procure a Living by their Buildings in Town; for 
Boards of all kinds, could always be bought in CaroUna, for half 
the Price that they were able to sell them at ; but few w^re capa- 
ble to Commission them from thence, and those who were so. 
were prevented from doing it, upon Pretence of discouraging 
the Labour of white People in Georgia. Those who had Num- 
bers of Servants and Tracts of Land in the County, went upon 
the Planting of Corn, Pease, Potatoes, SfC. and the Charge of 
these who succeeded the best, so far exceeded the Value of the 
Produce, that it would have saved three fourths to have bought 
all from the Carolina Market. The Falling of Timber was a 
Task very unequal to the Strength and Constitution of white 
Servants ; and the Hoeing the Ground, they being exposed to 
the sultry Heat of the Sun, insupportable; and it is well known, 
that this Labour is one of the hardest upon the Negroes, even 
tho' their Constitutions are much stronger than white People, and 
the Heat no Way disagreeable nor hurtful to them; but in us it 
created injiamatory Fevers of various kinds, both continued and 
intermittent; ivasting and tormenting Fluxes, most excruciating 
Choliclcs, and Dry-BcUy-Achs; Tremors, Vertigoes, Palsies, 
and a long Train of ^ain/it/ and lingring nci'vous Distempers; 
which brought on to many a Cessation both from Work and Life; 
especially as Water without any Qualification was the chief 
Drink, and Salt Meat the only Provisions that could be had or 
afforded: And so general were these Disorders, that during the 
hot Season, which lasts from March to October, hardly one Half 
of the Servants and working People, were ever able to do their 
Masters or themselves the least Service; and the Yearly Sick- 
ness of each Servant, generally speaking, cost his Master a? 



all of whom had Lots assigned them ; and likewise a \'essel u Itli/or^^/trRns- 
ported Irisli Convicts, whom he j)urchaEe<l, aliho' they had l)een beforf 
refused at Jamaica, and who aftcrwaicls occasioned continual Disturbances 
in the Colony. 
* Mr. Causton, tho Trustees Store keeper, mostly at their Charge, made ft 
Tarr Kiln, which turned out to iin Aflvaiitaje. 



•23 

much as would have maintained a Negro fov four YeiU-s. These 
Things were represented to the Trustees in the Summer 1735, in a 
Petition for the Use of Negroes, signed hy ahout Seventeen of 
the better Sort of People in Savannah : In this Petition there 
was also set forth the great Disproportion betwixt the Mainte- 
nance and Cloathing of white Servants and Negroes. This 
Petition was carried to England and presented to the Trustees, 
by Mr. Hugh Stirling, an experiei>ced Planter in the Colony ; 
but no Regard was had to it, or to what he could say, and great 
Resentment was even shewn to Mr. Thompson, the Master of 
the Vessel in which it went. 

WHILST we labour'd under those Difficulties in supporting 
ourselves, our Civil Liberties received a more terrible Shock: 
For, instead of such a free Government as wc had Reason to 
expect, and of being judged by the Laws of our JVIother Coun- 
try, a ^Dictator, (under the Title of Bailiff and Store-keeper, 
was appointed and left by Mr. Oglethorpe, at his Departure, 
whicli was in April, 1734) whose Will and Pleasure were the 
only Laws in Georgia : In Regard to this Magistrate, the others 
were entirely nominal, and in a Manner but Cyphers : Some- 
times he would ask in Publick their Opinion, in order to have the 
Pleasure of showing his Power by contradicting them. He 
would often threaten Juries, and especially when their Verdicts 
did not agree with his Inclination or Humour. And in order the 
more fully to establish his absolute Authority, the Store and Dis- 
posal of the Provisions, Money and public Places of Trust, 
were committed to him ; by which Alteration in his State and 
Circumstances, he became in a Manner infatuated, being before 
that a Person of no Substance or Character, having come over 
with Mr. Oglethorpe amongst the first Forty, and left England 
upon account of something committed by him concerning his 
Majesty's Duties : However, he was fit enough for a great many- 
Purposes, being a Person naturally proud, covetous, cunning and 
deceitful, and would bring his Designs about by all possible Ways 
and Means. 

AS his Potver encreas'd, so did his Pride, Haughtiness and 
Cruelty; insomuch that he caused eight Free-holders with an 
Officer, to attend at the Door of the Court, every Day it sat, 
with their Guns and Bayonets, and they were commanded, by 
his Orders, to Rest their Firelocks ns soon as he appeared; which 
made People in some Manner afraid to speak their Minds, or 
Juries to act as their Consciences directed them. He was seldom 
or never uncovered on the Bench, not even when an Oath was 

« Mr. Thomas Causton. 



:^4 

administered; and being pcrlbclly ivtmicafed witii Power and 
Pride, lie threatned every Person \vitiiout Distinction, Rich and 
Poor, Stranc^ers and Inhabitants, who in the least opposed his 
arbitrary Proctx^lings, or olaim'd their just Rights and Privile- 
ges, with the Storks, Whipping- Post and Logg-House, and many 
Tunes put those Threatnings in Execution ; so that the Georgia 
Stocks, W/iipping-Post and Jjogg-Housc, soon were famous in 
Carolina, and every when^ else in America, \vhere the Name of 
the Province was heard of, and the very Thoughts of coming to 
the Colony became a Terror to People's Minds. And now 
the Province of Carolina, who had, in private and publick Dona- 
tions, given us upwards of 1300/. Sterling, seeing these Things, 
and how the Publick Money was thrown away, began to despise 
the Colony, and out of a Regard to the Welfare of their Fel- 
low-Creatures, persuaded every Body they could from settling 
in it. That this absolute Power might be exercised without the 
least Interruption, the other Magistrates were such, that they 
either were unable or incapable to oppose it: It's true, in Decem- 
ber 1734, Mr. Causton met with a little Interruption; for the 
Trustees then sent over to Savannah one Mr. Gordon, as Chief 
Magistrate, who being a Person of a very winning Behaviour, 
affable and fluent in Speech, soon got the Good- Will of every 
Body, and a great many of the People laid their Grievances and 
Hardships open to him, which seem'd a little to eclipse Mr. Caus- 
ton ; but he soon found out an Expedient to remove this Adver- 
sary, viz. by refusing him Provisions from the Store, which in a 
little Time rendered him incapable to support himself and Fami- 
ly, whereby he was obliged, after about six Weeks stay, 
to leave the Place, in order, as he said, to represent our Griev- 
ances to the Trustees, and soon after returned to London; but 
he did not perform his Promise, for what Reason we sha'n't pre- 
tend to determine ; and some Time thereafter ho either resigned 
or was dismissed from his Office of First Bailiff, and Mr. Caus- 
ton was appointed in his Stead. As to Mr. Henry Parker, who 
was appointed Third Bailiff when Mr. Gordon came over, he 
was, in ^]\e first Place, a Man who had nothing to support him- 
self and large Family but his Day-Labour, which was Sawing, 
and consequently as soon as his Time was otherwise employ 'd, 
he must be entirely dependant on the Store for his Subsistence : 
In the second Place, he was a Man of no Education ; so that Mr. 
Causton soon moulded him to his own liking, and infused into 
him what Notions lie pleased : Thirdly, he was and is an absolute 
Slave to Liquor, and he who plies him most with it (which Caus- 
ton always took Care to do, and whose Exam})le has been since 
followed by his Successor Jones) baa him, right or wrong, on his 



'^o 



Side. As to Mr. Christie the Recorder, he was easily over-ruled 
by the other two ; and tlie same Practice was always continued ; 
ibr he who was appointed Third Bailiff' after Gordon's Dismis- 
sion or Resignation, was one Darn, nigh Seventy Years of Age, 
crazed both in Body and Mind, who died not long after his 
Appointment ; and his Successor /?. Gilbert, could neither read 
nor write ; so that Causton had ne^■er after Gordon s Departure, 
any Opposition made by the other Magistrates to his arbitrary 
Proceedings. If we should allow ourselves to enter into a Detail 
of the particular Instances of such Proceedings, we should exceed 
much our proposed Bounds : We shall therefore confine ourselves 
to two only, which may serve as a Specimen of the many others. 
ONE is, that of Capt. Joseph Watson: This Person having 
incurred Mr. CanstoiCs Displeasure, was indicted for stirring up 
Animosities in the Minds of the Indians, ike. tending to the Ruin 
and Subversion of the Colony. Upon his Trial, the Jury in their 
Verdict, found him only guilty of some unguarded Expressions, 
(altho' twice returned and hectored by Mr. Causton, who acted 
both as Witness and Judge in the Matter) and verbally recom- 
mended him by their Fore-man to the Mercy of the Court, imagin- 
ing or supposing he might be Lunatick ; (however, as it afterwards 
appeared, it was represented to the Trustees that the Jury found 
him guilty of Lunacy in their Verdict) whereupon he was imme- 
diately confined by Mr. Causton, (altho' sufficient Bail was 
offered) and kept Prisoner near three Years, without any Sen- 
tence. But, as we are informed this Affair now lies before a 
proper Judicature, we shall say no more of it. 

THE other Instance is that of Mr. OdingseU, who was an 
Inhabitant of Carolina, and had been a great Benefactor to the 
infirnt Colony of Georgia, having given several Head of Cattle 
and other valuable Contributions, towards the Promoting it. 
This person having come to Savannah to see how the Colony 
succeeded, after he had bee*! there a k-w Days, being abroad 
some Time after it was Night, as he was going to his Lodgings 
was taken up in the Street for a Stroller, carried to the Guard- 
House, and threatned with the Stocks and Whipping-Post ; the 
Terror and Fright of which (he being a mild and peaceable Man) 
threw him into a high Fever with a strong Delirium, crying out 
to every Person who came near him, that they were come to 
carry him to the Wliipping-Post ; and after lying two or thr^a 
Days in this distracted Condition, he was carried aboard his boat 
in order to be sent home, and died in the Way somewhere about 
DawfusJcce Sound. 

THUS, while the Nation at Home was amused with the 
Fame of the Happines'^ and Fl0uriT?hing of the Colony, and of 



•26 

it's being free Iroin Lawyers of any kind, the i)Our niiserault- 
Settlers and Inlvabitants were exposed to as urbiirary a Govern- 
ment as Turky or Muscovy ever felt. Verry Looks were crimi- 
nal, and the Grand Sin of withstanding, or any way opposing 
Anthority, (as it was called, wlien any Person insisted upon his 
just Rights and Privileges) was punished without Mercy. Ne- 
vertheless, we bore all these Things patiently, in full Hopes that 
the Trustees Eyes would soon be opened, and then our Griev- 
ances be redressed, and still continued exhausting our Substance 
in pursuing an impracticable Scheme, namely. Cultivating Land 
to Advantage.in such a Climate with white Servants only, not 
doubting, but that the Parliament, who Yearly repeated their 
Bounty, Would make up our Damages: But alas! their Bounty 
was applied in Georgia, rather to the Hurt than Benefit of the 
Colony, as we shall here brietly relate. First, a Light-House 
was set about ; but before the Frame was erected it was almost 
half rotten, and has not been carried on any farther, nor never 
even covered, which has likewise greatly contributed to it's 
decay; and now that lofty Fabrick, so highly useful to Vessels 
which make that Coast, is either fallcii or must fall very soon. 
Logg-Houses and Prisons of various sorts, were built and erased 
successively, and most Part of them were fitter for Dungeons in 
the Spanish Inquisition than British Goals. Irons, Whipping- 
Posts, * Gibbets &/"€. were provided, to keep the Inhabitants in 
perpetual Terror ; for Innocence was no Protection : And for some 
Time there were more Imprisonments, Whippings, SfC. of white 
People, in that Colony of Liberty, than in all British America 
besides. Corn-Mills, Saw-Mills, Publick Roads, Trustees Plan- 
tations, (as they were called) PVells and Forts, in difFerenI 
Places, were all set about, but, as is evident from the Event, with 
no Design to serve the Publick, but only to amuse the World, 
and maintain some Creatures who assisted in keeping their Neigh- 
bours in subjection ; for few or none of these Things were ever 
brought to Perfection; some of them were left off half finished, 
and of those that were finished, some were erased (being Ibund 
of no Service,) and others fell of themselves for Want of proper 
Care. To carry on the Manufactures of Silk and Wine, a 
XiaJxlen was planted with Mulberries and Vines, which was to be 
a Nursery to supply the Rest of the Province: But tliis was 
as far from answering the proposed End, as every Thing else 
was ; for it is situated upon one of the most barren Spots of Land 
in the Colony, being only a large Hill of dry Sand: Great Sums 



* It was a very usual Thing with General Oglethorpe, when any Persons 
had incurred his Displeasure, lo threaten to hang them. 



of Money were tilro^va away upon it from Year to Year, to no 
Purpose: This was Remonstrated to the Trustees; and they 
seem'd to be sensible of the Error, and gave Orders to chuse 
another Spot of Ground ; but the Ruling Powers in Georgia 
took no Notice thereof. And now, after so great Time and 
Charge, there are not so Uiany Mulberry -Trees in all the Province 
of Georgia, as many one of tlie Carolina Planters have upon 
their Plantations ; nor so much Silk made there in one Year, as 
many of those Planters do make : Nor could they ever in that 
Garden, raise one Vine to the Perfection of bearing Fruit. And 

here it may be observed. That the Sill: Mr. O pe carried 

over for a Present to Queen CAROLINE, was most of it, if 
not all, made in Carolina. Tho' no proper Measures were ever 
taken for advancing the Silk and fVinc Manvfacturcs , yet private 
Persons made several Assays towards the Culture ol' European 
Grapes ; but even such Attempts met with no suitable Encour- 
agement from Mr. Og/eihorpe, as will appear from the following 
Fact. Abraham De Leon, a Jew, who had been many Years 
a Vineron in Portngnl, and a Free-holder in Savannah, cultivat- 
ed several kinds of Grapes in his Garden, and, amongst others, 
the Porto and Malaga to great Perfection ; of this he sent Home 
an attested Account to the Board of Trustees, proposing further, 
That if they would lend him, upon such Security as he offered, 
Two Hundred Pounds Sterling, for three Years without Liter- 
est, that he would employ the said Sum, ivith a farther StocJc of 
his oiun, in sending to Portugal, and bringing over Vines and 
Vinerons ; and that lie should be bound to repay the Money in 
three Years, and to have groi&ing within the Colony Forty 
Thousand s?^c/i Vines, xvhicli he would furnish the Free-holders 
with at moderate Rates. 

THE Trustees were satisfied with the Security, and accepted 
the Proposal, and wrote liim, That they had remitted the Two 
Hundred Pounds by Mr. Oglethorpe for his Use ; which he did 
not deny, when applied to by the said Leon for the same, but 
said, that he could not advance more than Tiventy or Thirty 
Pounds, in regard he had other Uses for the INIoney; and so 
that Design dropt. 

IN February, 1735-6, Mr. Og pe arrived in Georgia, for 

the second Time, with great Numbers^of People, in order to set- 
tle to the Southward, where he soon after carried them. Upon 
the Island of St. Simons he settled a Town, which he called 
Frederica; and about /f?'e Miles Distance from thence, towards 
the Sea, he placed the Independant Company which he removed 
from Port-Royal in Carolina, their former Station. On one of 
ihe Branches of the Alatamaha he settled (ho High-landers, in 
r 



us 

u V'ilhiiic uiiicli was callcil Daruii. Then he beltled a Fort or* 
Cumberland, whirli he named *S7. Andrews; and some Timr 
after lie caused a Garrison of td)out Fifty Men to be placed upon 
a Sandy I^-bnid (witliout fre<=h Water) in the Montli of Si. John's 
River, opposite to a S^jani.-ih Lvok-Oui, where Pos.~es-ion was 
kept for about six Months, and several J'^ortifications bnill : but at 
last he was oblig'd to abandon it, after seAcial People had lost 
their Lives by the Inconveniencies of the Place, besides greai 
Sums of Money thrown away in vain. 

WHILST Things thus passed in the Southern Part of the 
Province, Mr. Causton, was not idle at Sataimoh ; and one woul(5 
have thought, that he made it his particvdar Design further t'~ 
exasperate the People of Carolina : Pie stopt their Boats who 
were going up to iY(W-7r7n(/sor; and not content with that, lu 
caus'd them to be searched, and whatever Rum was found there- 
in, was directly stav'd, in Pursuance of an Act, as he alledg'd. 
entitled. An Act against the Importation of Rum into the Colony 
o/ Georgia. To complain of this, and to represent the bad State 
of the Indian Trade, a Conmiittee from the Assembly of South-' 

Carolina, arrived at Savannah in July 1736, where Mr. Og ye 

then was : But their coming was of little Consequence ; for after 
this the Differences and Animosities betwixt the two Province.'? 
rather encreased than diminished; and we shall only observe, 

that one Thing is certain, that ever since Mr. Ogle -pe inter- 

meddled in the Indian Trade, it has decayed a-pace, and at this 
Time is almost intirely good-for-nothing either to the one or the 
other Province. 

THUS wdiile the Province of Carolina resented the bad Treat- 
ment they had met with from the Leading Powers in Georgia, 
against the Colony in general, the poor Inhabitants were doubly 
unfortunate, being ill look'd upon by their nearest Neighbours 
and Friends, for the Actings of their Governors, while they 
themselves were still the greatest Sufferers by those very Actings. 

WHILST INlr. O pe staid in Georgia, great Complaint? 

were made against the arbitrary Proceedings of Mr. Causton ; 
but to no Purpose : Likewise several Persons endeavoured to 
shew the Impossibility of the Colony's succeeding, according to 
it's then present Constitution : But if this was done in his Hear- 
ing, he either always Brow-beat the Person or evaded the Dis- 
course; if by Letters, he never made any Answer to them; even 
altho' he had given publick Orders, that every Person should 
give in their Grievances and Complaints to him in Writing, and 
that he would consider and answer the same. But that we might not 
be entirely ignorant of his Thoughts, Mr. Causton, who always-' 
spoke his Sentiments, publickly declar'd That ice had neither 



w 

Lands, Rights or Possessions; That the Trustees gare and that 
the Trustees could freely take away: And attain, when he was 
told, that the Light-House wanted a few SpTke-Nails to fasten 
some of it's Braces which were loose, and which might occasion 
the Downfall of the whole Fabrick ; he answer'd That he would 

say as Mr. Oglethorpe said. It might fall and be d d. Mr. 

Oglethorpe staid in Georgia until November 1736, most^of which 
Time he spent to the Southward, and then embark'd for England, 
leaving Mr. Causton with the same Authority he had formely 
invested him with and in the same Power he then exercised, and 
the Colony under the same Difficulties and Hardships. 

liM 31arch thereafter we had Advice of the Spaniards Inten- 
tions of attacking the Colony from the Uavannah. This put 
the whole Province in great Consternation, especially the Town 
of Savannah; they having neither Fort, Battery, or any other 
Place to shelter themselves in, in Case of any actual Attack ; 
therefore they immediately set about Building a Wooden Fort, 
and all sorts of People labour'd continually until it was in some 
Measure finish'd; only Mr. Causton never came to the Work 
but did all he could to retard it, making light of the Information' 
altho' it was sent Express by Commodore Dent, with a Letter 
directed to the Commander in Chief of Georo-in ; and has since 
been put out of all Manner of Doubt,' the Spaniards having at 
that Time, Four Thousand Men embarqued and ready to sail, 
it an extraordinary Accident had not prevented *them. People 
now seeing the little Care that was likely to be taken in Case of 
a real Attack; and likewise finding, to their Cost, that the Im- 
provement of Land was a vain and fruitless Labour with white 
Servants only, and with such Restrictions and precarious Titles, 
many began to withdraw and leave the Colony, and very little 
was planted this Season. 

AND Nolo to make our Subjection the more compleat, a new 
1737. '^'"^f^^ Tyranny was this Summer begun to be imposed 
upon us ; for Mr. John tVesly who had come over and was 
receiv'd by us as a Clergyman of the Church of England, soon 
discovered that his Aim was to enslave our Minds, as a necessary 
Preparative for enslaving our Bodies. The Attendances upon 
Prayei's, Meetings and Sermons inculcated by him, so frequently, 
and at improper Hours, inconsistent with necessary Labour, espe- 
cially in an infant Colony, tended to propagate a Spirit of Indo- 
lence and of Hypocrisy amongst the most abandoned ; it being much 



They werH Jetaiii'd ejs^ht Days at the Havannnh, by contrary Winds (the 
Land-Forces being on board all that tin.e) ai the End of which there came 
Orders from OW 6/)ui„, to loihear Hostilities, the Convention being then 
iigreecl ii|)(im. 



30 

easier for such Persons, by an affected Shew of Religion, and Ad- 
herence to INIr. Wcah/s Novelties, to be provided by liis Procure- 
ment from the publick Stores, than to use that Industry which true 
Religion recommends: Nor indeed could the Reverend Gentle- 
man conceal the Designs he was so full of, Having frequently 
declar'd, That he never (Jesir'd to sec Georgia a Rich, But a 
* Rcligiovs Cohyiiy. 

AT last all Persons of any Consideration came lo look upon 
him as a Roman Cathotick, for which the following Reasons 
seem'd pretty convincing. 1st, Under an alfected strict Adher- 
ence to the Church of England, he most unmercifully damned 
all Dissc7iters of whatever Denomination, who were never 
admitted to communicate with him until they first gave up their 
Faith and Principles entirely to his Moulding and Direction, and 
in Confirmation thereof declared their Belief of the Invalidity 
of their former Baptism, and then to receive a new one from him: 
This was done pubhckly on the Persons of Richard Turner, 
Carpenter, and his Son. Another Instance was that of William 
^ojf, who had once communicated and always conformed to his 
Regulations, but was at last found out by Mr. Wesly to have been 
baptized by a Freshyttrion Dissenter, the same Thing was pro- 
pos'd to him; but Mr. Gaffuot inclinable to go that Length, was 
ever thereafter excluded from the Communion. 

2f//y, While all Dissenters (whereof a considerable Number 
was in the Colony) were thus unmercifully danmed, and shut out 
from Religious Ordinances, contrary to tliat Spirit of Moderation 
and Tenderness which the Church of England shew towards 
them ; Persons suspected to be Roman Catholicks were received 
and caressed by him as his First-Rate Saints. 

Sdly, A third Confirmation of this Suspicion arose from his 
Endeavours to establish Confession, Pennance, Mortifications, 
Mixing Wine with Water in the Sacrament, and Suppressing in 
the Administration of the Sacrament, the Explanation adjoyned 
to the Words of communicating by the Church of England, to 
shew that they Mean a Feeding on Christ by Faith, saying, no 
more than " The Body of Christ; Tlie Blood of Christ ; " by 
Appointing Deaconesses, with sundry other Innovations, which 
he called ApostoUclc Constitutions. 

Athly, As there is always a strict Connexion betwixt Popery 
and Slavery; so the Design of all this fine Scheme seem'd to the 
most Judicious, to be calculated to debase and depress the Minds 
of the People, to break any Spirit of Liberty , and humble them with 
Fastings, Pennances Drinking of Water, and a thorough Subjec- 



Arcor'ling lo bis System. 



31 

tion to the Spiritual Jurisdiction which lie asserted was to be 
established in his Person ; and when this should be accomplished, 
the Minds of People would be equally prepared for the Receiv- 
ing Civil or Ecclesiastical Tyranny. 

All Jesuitical Arts were made Use of to bring the well con- 
certed Scheme to Perfection ; Families were divided in Parties ; 
Spies were engaged in many Houses, and the Servants of others 
l)rib'd and decoy'd to let him into all the Secrets of the Families 
they belonged to; nay, those who had given themselves up to his 
Spiritual Guidance (more especially Women) were obliged to 
discover to him their most secret Actions, nay even their Thoughts 
and the Subject of their Dreams: At the same Time he gave 
Charge to Juries ; gave his Opinion in all Civil Causes that came 
before the Court: Nor could we imagine what all this would end 
in : Complain we might ; but to no Purpose : And Mr. Cawdon 
and he went Hand-in-Hand. 

BUT the merciful Providence of GOD disappoints frequently 
those Designs that are laid deepest in Human Prudence. 

Mr. Wcshj at this Time repulsed Mrs. Sojyhia Williamson, 
Neice to Mr. Causton, from the Sacrament. This young Lady 
was by her Friends put under the Ghostly Care of Mr. Wesly; 
who was pleased to make Proposals of Marriage to her : These 
she always rejected ; and in some little Time married Mr. William 
WiJliamson of Savannah, much contrary to Mr. W'eA/y's Inclina- 
tions: After the said Marriage Mr. Wesly used all Means to 
create a Misunderstanding betwixt Mrs. Williamson and her 
Husband, by persuading her, that Mr. Williamson had no Right 
to regulate her Behaviour as to conversing with him, or attending 
Meetings as formerly ; but at last finding he could gain Nothing 
upon her, and tliat Mr. Williamson had forbade him any Conver- 
sation with his Wife cut of his Presence, he took the 'foresaid 
Means, by repelling her from the Holy Communion, of shewing 
his Resentment. Mr. Williamson thought himself well founded 
in an Action of Damages; and Mr. WESLY (being no longer 
supported by Mr. Causton, who was highly nettled at the Affront 
put upon his Neice, and could now declaim as fluently against 
Spiritual Tyranny as any Person) was indicted before a GRAND 
JURY of Forty Four Free-holders, and Thirteen Indictments 
were found against him ; one concerned Mr. Williamson and Lis 
Spouse ; the others concerning the Grievances we felt by his 
Measures, and the Exercise of his Ecclesiastical Functions, as 
above related : These last were given in to the Magistrates, 
to be by them laid before the Tmstees, that these our 
Grievances might in Time coming, be properly redressed, 
(we having no other Jurisdiction, either Civil or Ecclesiastical, 



32 

thai we could iiiukc Application to ;) Then the Grand Jury began 
to consider and think, that as it was not probable a greater Num- 
ber of the better Sort of People could ever be legally met toge- 
ther; so this was a fit Time to represent their Grievances and 
Hardshij)s to the Trustees: Which they did in the following 
Manner. 

An Abstract of the Jlepreacntation of the Grand Jury of 

SAVANIXAH, to the Jlonourabh the Trustees. 
' Wl E the Grand Jury duly sworn on the 22c? of the last 
' ^ ^ Month, and iiaving divers Matters laid before us, whicli 
' we humbly conceive, cannot properly be presented to this 
Court, because several of the said Matters touch the Proceed- 
ings of the Magistrates of the said Court, and contain sundry 
Articles, setting forth many publick Necessities and Hardships, 
which can only be remedied by your Honours Authority: 
THEREFORE, We the said Grand Jury having examined 
several Witnesses, do, upon our Oaths, Represent to your 
Honours the following Grievances, Hardships and Necessities. 
' THAT as the Inhabitants of this Town and County have 

• been and are still subject to many Inconveniencies, for Want 
' of a Body of the Laws and Constitutions of this Province ; it 

• being exceeding Difficult in many Cases, both for Grand and 

• Petit Juries, to discharge in a proper manner the great Duties 

• that are incumbent on them by their Oaths ; so we hope Your 

• Honours will assist us, that we may be enabled well and truly 

• to execute our Duties as aforesaid. ^ 

' THAT Thomas Causton, by his arbitrary Proceedings, hath 

• endeavoured to render the Power and Proceedings of Grand 

• Juries ineffectual, especially this Grand Jury, by intruding upon 
' it when inclosed and about Business, and using the Members 
' thereof, with great Haughtiness and Ill-nature, and threatning 
'^ to dissolve them. 

' THAT the said Thomas Causton, by his Office of Store- 

• keeper, hath the Dangerous Power in his Hands of alluring 

• weak-minded People to comply with unjust Measures , and also 

• over-awing others from making just Complaints and Repre- 
' sentations to Your Honours; and the known Implacability of 
' the said Causton, and his frequent threatning of such People, 
' is to many weak-minded tho' well-disposed Persons, a strong 
' Bulwark against their seeking Redress, by making proper Com- 

• plaints and just Representations to You their Benefactors, 
^ Patrons and Protectors. 

' THAT the said Causton has made great Advancements on 

• Provisions and Goods sold out of the Trustees Store to the 



33 

inhabitanta, contrary to Mr Oglethorpe's Promise when ho llrsf 
settled tliis Colony, and contrar)', as we apprehend, to Your 
Honours good Intentions, and greatly detrimental to llic Pros- 
perity of the Colony; and that he hath refused to pay the 
Publick Debts otherwise than in Provisions at those (har Rates, 
and sometimes bad and unwholsome, out of tlie Publick Store, 
whereby the Inhabitants were ^/•(7///_y distressed, and some have 
been obliged to leave the Province. 

' THAT whereas one John White, who had been committed 
for Felony, at the Suit of Jf^iUiam AgUonhi/, and he the said 
Aglionhy was bound to prosecute the same at next Court : 
Notwitlistanding lie the said IVhitc was removed before that 
Time by a Warrant under the Hand and Seal of Thomas Christie ^ 
and as we think, by the Advice and Connnand of TJiumus 
Causton ; by which Means we imagine the Criminal has escup- * 
ed Justice, to the great Encouragement of enormous Offenders, 
contrary, as we conceive, to the Laws of our Country, the 
Peace of our Sovereign Lord the King, his Crown and Dignity, 
and particularly to the Welfare of this Your Colony. 

' THAT the said Causton did greatly discourage the Inhabi- 
tants of this Town and County, in the Measures they had taken for 
the Defence and Safety of this place in the late Alarm from the 
Sjjaniards ; for altho' almost every Body, Masters and Servants, 
labour'd continually in making a Fort to defend themselves, in 
case of Necessity; yet he the said Causton never came nigh 
the Work, but by his Words and Behaviour did all he could to 
prevent it; until at last the People were obliged to leave off the 
Work unfinished, contrary to the Welfare and Safety of this 
Colony. 

' THAT the said Causton hath greatly prevented and discour- 
aged the Cultivation of Lands, by his hindring People to 
settle on the Tracts that were allotted to them by the Trustees ; 
whereby several People have been greatly distressed, and some 
almost ruin'd, contrary (as we humbly conceive) to Your Ho- 
nours good Intention, aud the principal Part of Your glorious 
Undertaking. 

' THAT the said Thomas Causton, in order to colour his 
illegal Proceedings, hath uttered Words to this or the like Pur- 
pose, We do not stand upon our Feet; we do not Jcnoio either 
our Lau's or Liberties, nor what the Trustees intend ; a Ma." 
gistrate cannot act to strict Forms, hut may dismiss Matters of 

Petty-Felony in the easiest Maimer; thereby claiming to him- 
self (as we humbly conceive) a dispensing Power, fatal to the 
Liberties of British Subjects, and contrary, &fc. 

■ THE Want of Puhlick Roads hath been greatly detrimental 



31 

' to many wiio have Settlements at any Distance Ironi thi.-j Place : 
' and some have lost, and are still liable to loose great Part ot 
' their Crops, through the Difficvilly of passing to and from their 
' Plantations. 

' THAT the great Want of Strvaiits in this Town and Coun- 
' ty doth render the Free-holders thereof incapable of j)roceeding 
' with proper V^igor in the Cultivating their Lands ; and as the 

* Honourable James Oglethorpe, Esq; did generously promise, 
' that Your Honours would be pleas'd to give this Colony con- 
' tinual Assistance, by sending over Servants to the said Free- 
' holders at reasonable Rates : Therefore, we do, with all Hu- 
' mility, lay before Your Honours the great and general Want of 

* Servants in this Town and County ; not doubting Your timely 

* Assistance therein. 

' THAT the Town of Savanmh stands in the utmost Need^ 
' of having a good Wharff and Crane, for the Conveniency of 
' both Strangers and Inhabitants, they being at double Pains and 
' Costs in landing and getting their Goods up the Bluff. 

' THAT the Light-House of Tyhee, which with great Labour 

* and (as we humbly conceive) vast Expence to Your Honours. 
' remains unfinish'd and uncover'd; by Reason of which, that 
' most necessar}^ and lofty Structure is subject to all the Injuries 

* of Weather, and may totally decay if not in time prevented, 
' which will be greatly detrimental to the Trade, Navigation and 
' Welfare of this Colony. 

' THAT the Inhabitants of this Town and County are at vast 
' Expence in Time of Sickness, especially they who have most 
' Servants; it being a general Misfortune, that during the hot 

* Season of the Year, hardly one Half of the Servants are able 
' to do their Masters any Work, by Reason of the violent Sick- 
' nesses ; which hath very much prevented the Inhabitants front 

* making Improvements. 

' IT is without the least Personal Resentment to Mr. Causton. 
'' or any other Person, that we do, with the most profound Res- 

* pect and Duty, lay before Your Honours the foregoing Griev- 
' ances. Hardships and Necessities; and it is not the Persons or 
' Personal Infirmities of any of the Magistrates we blame ; but 
' such of their Actions and Words as (we humbly conceive) tends 
' to the Subversion of our Laws and Liberties ; and we are firmly 
' pursuaded, that Mr. Causton would not have impannelled this 
' Grand Jury, on an Affair that so nearly concerned him as that 
' of his Neice's did, if he had not believed the several Persons 
' of this Grand Jury, to be Men of strict Integrity, and no way 

* prejudiced against him ; and as we the said Grand Jury are, for 

* the time being, appointed for the solemn Representation of 



' Tnuli, \VG humbly hope l(our Honours will consider this our 
* Representation, as proceeding from a strict, impartial and sound 
' Enquiry. 

In Witness, ^c. This fir/ti Day 0/ September, 1737. 

THE Orginal of tliis was signed by all the Forty Four, and 
sent Home ; but Avas taken no Notice of by the Tiaistees for any 
Thing ever we heard ; and we hope it will appear evident to 
every judicious Reader, that this Jury was neither byassed nor 
intimidated by Causton, to the Prejudice of any Person what- 
5?oever, as Mr. Wcstly asserts in his Journal Prirtted at Bristol, 
]739. H(! likewise says, there ivcre a professed. Atheist and 
Deist in the Number ; but for our Parts we know of neither ; 
But a Man of Mr. Wesly's Principles, who makes no ScrUple of 
writing wilful Falshoods (as may be seeh by any Body that 
compares this Narrative with his Journal) and of damning every 
Person of a contrary Opinion with himself; may, loithout Hesi- 
tation, give People what Appellations come in his Head: How- 
ever this put an End to any further Prosecution of Mr. Wesly's 
Schemes ; for soon after this, he departed the Colony privately 
by Night, and went to Charles-Town, and from thence to 
England. 

Mr. Wcsly had Address enough (as he says in his foremen- 
tioned Journal) to persuade several Persons who Were Members 
of the Grand Jury, to retract (by some Paper which he drew 
up for them to sign) their former Sentiments ; but this, if it was 
at all, proceeded entirely from the solemn Assurances which he 
gave them, that his main Design Home was to represent the 
Grievances and Oppressions lahich the poor Colony laboured 
under; and upon this Account was charged with divers Letters 
and Papers from private Persons, relating to the Colony ; which 
he undertook faithfully to delivex: But as we have since found, 
that all iMr. Oglethorpe's Interest was employed to protect Mr. 
Wesly ; it is no wonder those Promises were never fulfil'd ; nor 
indeed could it ever be ascertain'd, that even the private Letters 
which he carried, were so much as delivered. 

ON the other Hand Mr. Causton ever after bore a mortal 
Hatred to the Members of this Grand Jury, and took every 
Opportunity to shew his Resentment ; and we doubt not but he 
prevail'd upon three or four of them to a Recantation, having 
either terrified or starved them into a Compliance: But we bore 
tiiese Things the more patiently, as being satisfied the Trustees 
were Gentlemen who had our Interest at Heart, and who would 
hoar and redress our Grievances in due Time; and that Mr. 
O fe might still be a Friend to the Colony; but at last 



36 

we heard He had procured a Regiment for its Defence, of which 
he was made Colonel ; and that He was likewise made General 
and Commander in Chief over all his Majesty's Forces in South- 
Carolina and Georgia. This News was confirmed by Willia7>i 
Stephens, Esq ; who was sent over as Trustees Secretary to 
represent the State and Condition of the Colony as it really was, 
and to assist and consult with the Magistrates: But ]\Ir. Causton 
soon found the Means to bring over '^the old Gentleman to his 
Interest, or at least to acquiesce in every Thing he said or did ; 
lor he had still the Command of the Cash and Stores, and 
Mr. Stephens had Nothing to live upon but his Salary, which 
he could stop the Payment of at Pleasure ; so our Secretary 
remained passive until Camton's Government ended. 

AT last Mr. Oglethorpe comes over for the third Time, in 
September, with the Remainder of his Regiment ; the other Part 
havmgcome with Col. Cochran in May: But alas! this Regi- 
ment was of no Service, otherwise than to strengthen us in Case 
of an Attack ; for we could neither furnish them in Cloaths, Pro- 
visions nor any one Thing they wanted: And to put us out of 
all Hopes of Bettermg our Condition, Mr. Oglethorpe was 
pleas'd to declare in the Court-House of Savannah, That as 
long as he had any thing to do with the Colony, there should 
neither be Allowance of Negroes nor Alteration in the Titles 
of Land; and if any such Thing should happen, he ivouldhavc 
no further Concern with it. Tlie People thus seeing there was 
no Hope of Redress, left the Colony daily; and the Trustees 
Credit receiving a great Shock by their refusing Mr. Causton' s 
certified Accompts, and an entire Stop being Put to the Publick 
Store; many poor Wretches died of Hunger: For at this Time 
Mr. Causton was turned out of all his Places, and the Store was 
ordered to be sold, in order, as was said, to pay off the Trustees 
Debts : One Thomas Jones, a Favourite of Mr. Oglethorpe, 
whose Character we shall have Occasion to give afterwards, was 
put in his Place, as Cash and Store-keeper, only with a different 
Title, viz. that of Magazine-keeper; for none but the Trustees 
Servants were to be supplied from it: But the Contrary soon 
appeared ; for the Sola Bills that were sent over, were ordered 
to be issued out in the Names of William Stephens, Esq; Mr. 
Ihomas Christie and Mr. Thomas Jones, or any ttvo of thera; 
but the other two agreeing together, entirely excluded Christie. 
and paid them to whom and for what Purpose they thought 
convement: They bought New- York Cargoes, and any other 
Commodities that could be got in Quantities, and put them into 
the Magazine, where they were sold out by Jones in Wholesale 
and Retail, for ready Money, at exorbitant Rates. This Trade 



37 

diey have carried on ever since, to their vast Advantage ; but to 
tlie no small Distress of the poor People, who are obliged to give 
at the Rate almost of Cent, per Cent, for their Provisions. 
"^Fhus under the Colour of no Store, these two keep as open a 
one as ever Causton did ; and by having the Publick Money at 
their disposal, the Payment of all Salaries and Pensions coming 
through their Hands, they are become as absolute ; with this 
Difference, that Mr. Causton's Power in every Respect, extend- 
ed over the whole Colony when it was most populous and Mo- 
ney most plenty ; but theirs seems only to affect the wretched 
Remains of Savannah. 

We might have imagin'd, that the Trustees were somewhat 
moved with our re.peated Complaints and that Mr. Causton's 
Removal was owing thereto : But alas ! in this we w ere mistak- 
en; Nothing (as ever we could understand) was laid to his 
Charge on our Account ; and it was of small Benefit to us, 
whether the Mismanagement of Money, which was the Reason of 
his Dimission, lies at his or Mr. Oglethorpe's Door: And we 
cannot hut here take Notice that Mr. Causton's Case fortifies the 
Common Observation, That those who prostitute themselves to 
carry on illegal and oppressive Schemes, when they have once 
stuclc in the Mire, they are forsaken by their Employers, and 
despised by all the World besides. 

Mr. Oglethorpe staid not long at Savan7iah, his common 
Residence being at Frederica, where they had, in Imitation of 
us, built a few Houses, and cleared some Land ; but finding 
Planting not answer, they left it off, and as soon as the Regiment 
came, almost every Body betook themselves to the Keeping 
Publick-Houses ; and in this INIanner do the few that now remain 
live. 

ALL the Publick Work being put a Stop to, and Clearing of 
Land being found impracticable, by which most of us had ruin'd 
ourselves; we were in a miserable Condition ; and all hope from 
Mr. Oglethorpe being at an End, we could hardly tell what to 
do: But still thinking, the Trustees might be ignorant or misin- 
formed of the present Condition of the Colony, we at last resolved 
to set forth our Grievances in a short and general Representation, 
to be signed by all the Free-holders in the Colony; of which the 
following is an exact Copy. 

To the Honourable the Trustees for Establishing the Colony of 
Georgia in America. 
May it please Your Honours ; 

WE whose Names are under-written, being all Settlers, 
Free-holders and Inhabitants m the Province of Georgia^ 



;j8 

' and being sensible of the great Pains and Care exerted by You 
' in Endeavouring to settle this Colony, since it has been under 
' Your Protection and Management ; l)o unaniuiously join to lay 
*■ before You, with the utmost Regret, the following Particulars: 
' But in the first Place, we must beg Leave to observe, that it 
' has afforded us a greiit deal of Concern and Uneasiness, that 
' former licprcscntations made to You of the same Nature, have 
' not been thought worthy of due Consideration, nor e\cn of an 
' Answer. We have most of us settled in this Colony in Pur- 
' suance of the Description and Recommendation given of it by 
' You in Britain ; and from the Experience of residing here 
' several Years, do find that it is impossible that the Measures 

* hitherto laid down and pursued for making it a Colony can suc- 

* ceed. None of all those who have jilanted their Land have 
' been able to raise Sufhcient Produce to maintain their Families 
' in Bread kind only, even tho' as much Application and Indus- 

* try have been exerted to bring it about, as could be done by 
' Men engaged in an Affair on which they believed the Welfare of 
' themselves and Posterity so much depended, and which they 

* imagin'd required more than ordinary Pains to make succeed ; 

* so that by the accumulated Expences every Year, of Provisions, 
' Cloathing and Medicines, for themselves. Families and Servants, 

* several hath expended all their Money, nay even run consider- 
' ably in Debt, and so been obliged to lea\'e off Planting and 
' making further Improvements ; and those who continue are 
' daily exhausting more and more of their Money, and some 
*• daily increasing their Debt, without a Possihiiitij of being 
' reimbursed, according to the priscnt Constitution. This being 

* now the general State of the Colony, it must be obvious that 
' People cannot subsist by their Land, according to the present 
' Establishment ; and this being a Truth resulting from Tryal, 
' Practice and Experience, cannot be contradicted by any thco- 
' rical Scheme or Reasoning. The Land then, according to the 
' present Constitution, not being ca[)able to maintain the Settlers 
' here, they must unavoidably have recourse to and depend upon 
' Trade : But to our wofnl Experience likewise, the same 
' Causes that prevented the ^/"il!, obstruct the latter; for tho' the 
' Situation of this Place is exceeding well adapted for Trade, and 
*■ if it was encouraged, might be much more improved by the 
' Inhabitants ; yet the Diiiiculties and Restrictions, which we 
' hitherto have and at present do labour under, debar us of that 
' Advantage : Timber is the only Thing we have here which we 
' might export, and notwithstanding we are obliged to fall it in 
' Planting our Land ; yet we cannot manufacture it for a Foreign 
^ Market but at double the Expcncc of other Colonies ; a« for 



39 

' Instance, tJie River of May, which is but tu-enti/ Miles from irs, 

• with the Allowance of Negroes, load Vessels vrith. that Comri-iC- 
' (lity at one Half of the Price that we can do ; and what should 

• induce Persons to hrinii; Ships here, when they can be loaded 
■• with one Half of the Expence so near us ; therefore the Timber 

• on the Land is only a continual Charge to the Possesisors of it, 
' the' of very great Advantage in all the IN on hern Colonic?, 
' where Negroes are allowed, and consequently Labour cheap. 
' We do not in the least doubt but that in Time Sill: and Wine 
' may be produced here, especially the former ; but since the 
' Cultivation of Land with white Servants only, cannot raise 
' Provisions for our Families as before mentioned, therefore it is 
' likewise im}K)ssible to carry on these Manufactures according to 

• x\\e present Constitution. It is very well known, that Carolina 
'■ can raise every thing that this Colony can ; and they havin;^ 

• their Labour so much cheaper will always ruin our Market, 
' unless we are in some Measure on a Footing with thciji ; and 
' as in both, the Land is worn out in /our or /ire Years, and then 
' fit for Nothing but Pasture ; v/e must l3e always at a great deal 
■■ more Expence than they in Clearing new Land for Planting. 
■ The Importation of the Necessaries of Life come to us at the 
'most extravagdnt Rate; Merchants in general, especially of 
' England, not being willing to supply the Settlers here with 
' Goods upon Commission, because no Person here can make them 
' any Security of their Lands or Improvements, as is very often 
' practis'd in other Places to promote Trade, when some of the 
' Employers Money is laid out in necessary Buildings and Im- 

• provements fitting lor the Trade intended, without which it 

• cannot be carried on : The Benefit of Importation therefore is 
' all to transient Persons, who do not lay out any Money amongst 

• us ; but on the Contrary, carry ever}'^ Penny out of the Place •, 
' and the chief Reason for their enhancing the Price, is because 
*^ they cannot get any Goods here either on Freight or Purchase for 
' another Market : If the Advantage accruing from Importation 
' centered in the Inhabitants, the Profit thereof would naturally 
' circulate amongst us, and be laid out in Improvements in the 
' Colony. Your Honours, we imagine, are not insensible of the 

• Numbers that have left this Province, not being able to support 
' themselves and Families any longer; and those still remaining, 
' who had Money of their own and Credit with their Friends, 
' have' laid out most of the former in Improvements, and lost 
' the latter for doing it on such precarious Titles. And upon 
' Account of the present Establishment, not above two or 

• three Persons, except those brought on Charity and Servants 
; sent by Yon, have come here for the Space of f wo Years past. 



40 

eitiier lo settle i^aud or encourage Trade, neither do we hear 
of any such Hkely lo come until we are on better Terms. It 
is true, His Majesty has been graciously pleased to grant a 
Regiment for the Defence of this Province and our neighbour- 
ing Colony, which indeed will very much assist us in defending 
ourselves against all Enemies; but otherwise does not in the least 
contribute to our Support; for all that Part of their Pay which 
is expended here, is laid out with transient People, and our 
Neighbours in Carolina, who are capable to supply them with 
Provisions and other Necessaries at a moderate Price, which we 
as before observed, arc not at all capable to do upon the present 
Establishment. This then being our present Condition, it is 
obvious what the Consequences must be. 

' But we for our Parts have intirely relied on and confided in 
Your good Intentions, believing You would redress any Griev- 
ances that should appear; and now by our long Experience, 
from Industry and continuid Application to Improvement of 
Land here, do find it impossible to pursue it, or even to subsist 
ourselves any longer, according to the present Nature of the 
Constitution; and likewise believing You will asree to those 
Measures that are found from Experience capable to make this 
Colony succeed, and to promote which we have consumed our 
Money, Time and Labour ; we do, from a sincere Regard to its 
Welfare, and in Duty both to You and ourselves, beg Leave 
to lay before Your immediate Consideration, the Two following 
chief Caus(>s of these our present Misfortunes and this deplora- 
ble State of the Colony, and which, we are certain, if granted, 
' would be an infallible Re;nedy for both. 

' 1st, The Want of a free Title or Fee-simple, to ourliands; 

* which if granted, would both induce great Numbers of new 
' Settlers to come amongst us, and likewise encourage those who 
■ remain here chearfully to proceed in making further Improve- 
' ments, as well to retrieve their sunk Fortunes as to make Pro- 
' visions for their Posterity. 

' 2d, The Want of the Use of Negroes, with proper Limita- 
' tions; which if granted, would both occasion great Numbers of 
' white People to come here, and also render us capable to subsist 

* ourselves, by raising Provisions upon our Lands, until we could 

* make some Produce fit for Export, in some Measure to Ballance 
' our Importation. We are very sensible of the Inconveniencies 
•' and Mischiefs that have already, and do daily arise from an 

* unlimited Use of Negroes; but we are as sensible, that these 
' may be prevented by a due Limitation, such as so many to each 
' white Man, or so many to such a Quantity of Land, or in any 

* other Manner which Your Honours shall think most proper. 



41 

■ By granting us, Gentlemen, these Two Parllcnlars, and sucli 

• other Privileges as His Majesty's most dutiful Subjects in 
' America enjoy, You will not only prevent our hnpending Kuin, 
' but, we are fully satisfied, also will soon make this the most 
' flourishing Colony possess'd by His Majesty in America, and 
' Your Memories will be ^trpe^ua^ef/ to all future Ages, our latest 
' Posterity sounding Your Praises, as tiieir Jirst Founders, Pa- 
' trons and Guardians; but if, by denying us these Privileges, we 

* ourselves and Families are not only ruin'd, but even our Pos- 
' terity likewise ; You will always be mentioned as the Cause and 
' Authors of all their Misfortunes and Calamities ; whicli we hope 
' will never happen. IVe are, 

with all due Respect, 
SHvannah, Your Honovrs most dutiful 

9;/4 December, 1738. and obcdicnt Servants, 



Henry Parlcer-, 

his 
Mobert R G. Gilbei 

Mark. 
Thomas Christie, 
John Falloiufield, 
John Brownjield, 
William Woodroofe^ 
Patrick Tailfer, 
Andreui Grant, 
Robert Williams, 
Samuel Mercer, 
Patrick Grhame, 
David Douglass, 
Tfiomas Bailie, 
Hugh Anderson, 
James Williams, 
Edward Jenkins, 
Thomas Ormston, 
Joseph Wardrope. 
George Bunckle, 
Adam Loyer, 
Peter Joubart, 
John Burton, 
Robert Hows, 
IVilliam Meers. 
Thomas Salter, 
James Bailow, 
James Anderson. 



p 



Thomas Trip, 
Samuel Holms, 
James Muer, 
William. Parker, 
John Grhame, 
James Papot, 
John Smith, 
William Calvert, 
Stephen Marrauld, 
Richard Mellechamp, 
Isaac Young, sen. 
James Dormer, 
William Carter, 
Henry Moulton, 
Jacob Watts, 
Henry Manley, 
Samuel Parker, 
Stephen Mounfoord, 
David Gender, 
James Chainsae, 
James Landry, 
Leivis Stamon, 
William Starjlichet, 
Simon Rieuwere, 
John You7ig, 
Samuel Lacy, 
Peter Baillow, 
Peter Emry, 
miliam Elbert, 



42 



fViUiam GrtcnfieUL 
Christopher Grecnjield, 
Thomas Young, sun, 
Henry Green, 
letter Tcctor, 
Hugh Frnzcr, 
John iSallic, 
James Carwells, 
John I^yndall, 
Joseph Fitzwater, 
JEHisha Foster, 
Walter For, 
John Penrose, 
David Snook, 
Edward. To icnsc nd; 
John Desborough, 

■ Gorsatid, 

Andrew Duchte^ 
James GaUway, 
John Kelly, 
Joseph Stanley. 
Thomas Young, 
Thomas Cross, 
Richard Davis, 
Thomas Tibbet, 
Jam,es Dean, 
Donald Steivart^ 
John Dudding, 
JVilUam Ewen, 
Henry Loyd, 
John Amory, 



James Houston, 
fsaac Young, 
Robert Hanks, 
Archibald Glen, 
Thomas Neal, 
Steph en Tarrien . 
James Smith, 
Samuel Ward, 
Pierre Morelle, 
John Desborough, jun- 
Edtvard Bush, 
Benjamin Adams, 
Charles Britain, 
John Rae, 
William Coltbred^ 
Thomas Wattle, 
Thomas Bailie, 
James Corneck, 
James Burnside, 
John Teasdale, 
Giles Becou, 
Francis Brooks, 
John Clark, 
George Rush, 
Andreio Walker, 
John Miller, 
Thomas Andrews, 
William. Sterling, 
Thomas Gantlet, 



Richard Rogers. 



In all 117. 



THIS Representation was signed with tlie greatest Willing- 
ness by the above One Hundred and Seventeen Free-holders 
in the County of Savannah, and only a very few of the Gene- 
ral's Favourites declined to subscribe the same, so strong appeared 
to all of them the Truths therein contained, and the absolute 
Necessity of such an Application. The Jeics applied for Liber- 
ty to sign with us; but we did not think it proper to join them 
in any of our Measures: We likewise did not allow Widows and 
Orphans to subscribe ; because as the Representation contain'd 
the absolute Necessities of the Colony ; it Might be objected to 
us, that they were no proper Judges. As for the People ol 
Ehenezcr, the Subscribers did particularly appoint some of their 
Number to wait upon Mr. Boltzius, their Pastor, and to show him 



43 

ihe Representaiion ; wliich was done ; and Mr. Boltzius declar'dj 
That the Saltzburghers were equally dissatisfied with their Rights 
and Restrictions as the other Free-holders, and he doubled not 
iheir Willingness to join in petitioning for Redress, engaging to 
consult them, and to bring their Answer ; which he never did ; 
and being thereafter question'd thereupon by Mr. Anderson (one 
of the Persons connnissioned to commune with him as is above 
related) in the Presence of several Gentlemen, he the said 
Boltzius, after some frivolous Excuses, confessed, that the 
Honourable Mr. Oglethorpe had both given them Satisfaction, 
and engaged him to write Home to Germany for a further Supply 
of his Countrymen. 

This Gentlemen (we observe it with Regret) has been made 
the Instrument of imposing upon many British Subjects, by 
publishing Journals and Letters (to which we refer) most incon- 
sistent witli Truth. 

Neither did we admit of Servants to sign the same, lest it 
should be objected, that they were under the Influence of their 
Masters. By this our Conduct it will appear to every Person of 
Impartiality, how far we were from using Arts * to extort by 
Clamour a Redress of our Grievances. 

A COPY of the Representation was immediately sent to 
Fredcrica, and another to Darien : The last was sent to Mr. 
John More M'^ Tntosh, and under the same Cover a Letter to 
Mr. Benjamin J\f' Intosh: But ihe first kept up the other's 
Letter, and sent his own with the Representation to the General ; 
who immediately dispatch'd Lieut. George Dunbar (who speaks 
the Highland Language, and has a very fluent and artful Way 
of Talking) who, with the Assistance of 3Ior€ M'' Intosh^ and 
Promises to the poor People of Cattle (which they afterwards 
got) with several other Considerations, soon persuaded them to 
sign a Paper, the Design of which, they were told, was to oppose 
the People of Savannah ; who being Enemies to the General, 
were petitioning against him. As for their Leader M" Intosh, 
he was immediately set up in a Store, and plentifully supplied 
with all Kinds of Goods, and has often declared, That if, by 
acting as he did, he could live well himself be did not care ivhat 
became of the rest of the Colony ; and. as for his Children they 
might go ivander in the Woods with the Indians. As soon as it 
was heard that the Representation was come to Frederica, the 
Inhabitants were called together, and told. That the People of 
Savannah loere going to throw off the Government of the Trus- 
tees, and had associated together for that Purpose ; and therefore 



* Vide Trustees Answer. 
H 



4d 

advis'd them to beware of any Snare that might he laid by these 
People, ivhich if they were caught in would ruin them. And 
thus was the Design of the Representation quash'd both in Do- 
rien and Frederica. Some Time after this a Copy of the Repre-' 
Sentation was siMit to I\Ir. Oghthorpe, toij^cther with tlie following 
Letter, which was wrote by an anonymous Autiior; wliich we 
think is partly an Explanation of the Representation, and like- 
wise a true View of the Situation of the Colony at that Time^ 
with the Character Mr. Oglethorpe then bore in it ; and for these 
Reasons we here insert it : It was directed , 

To the Honourable James Oglethorpe, Esq ; General and Com^ 
mander in Chief over all His Majesty^s Forces in South- 
Carolina and Georgia, i^'C. at Frederica. 

SIR, 

T T is the connnon Misfortune of all who act in the higher 
-*- Stations of Life, to be surrounded with Flatterers, who con-* 
suit rather the Humours, Passions and Prejudices of their 
Patrons, than their Honour and Interest : This should induct; 
every Person in such Station, who regards his o\\n Honour. 
Interest or Fame, to lend an open and attentive Ear to Truth, 
in whatever Shape or from whatever Hand delivered. I who 
use this Freedom with Your Excellency, being an anonymous 
Author, have no other Byass, Motive or Interest in View, fur* 
ther than as I am a Member of the Colony, and a Well-wisher 
to the Happiness of Society, unless a real and sincere Regard to 
your Honour and Welfare, and an earnest Desire to restore 
you to that Quiet of Mind and the now susjiended Afiection!:' 
of the People, which the present State of Affairs must neces- 
sarily deprive you of; it is not therefore of Consequence to 
enquire udio writes, but what is wrote: I am. Sir, a Plain-^Dea- 
ler, and shall, with the greatest respect, use you with more 
Sincerity than Ceremony ; and if my Arguments can attain the 
desired Effect, you will, I doubt not, think me your and the 
Colony's real Friend. When a skilful Physician would relieve 
his Patient of a Disease, he traces it from the Beginning, and 
examines the Sources and Progress of it, in order that by finding 
out the Cause, he may the more certainly apply a Remedy: 
In the Body Politick the same Process is necessary to effect 
a Cure. The present languishing and almost desperate Con- 
dition of the Affairs of this Province, is too obvious to your 
Excellency to need a Description: Be pleased then, laying aside 
Prepossession and Prejudice, to retire unto your self, and ex- 
• amine impartially whence the present Misfortunes take Rise: 



45 

' in order to which, let me present your Excellency uitii a View 

• of the Nation's Designs in Establishing this Colony ; and indeed 

• thc}^ were and are Nothing unsuitable to a British or Roman 
' Spirit ; To wit. The Establishing a strong and numerous 

• Settlement as a Barrier and Safeguard of British America : 
' To employ those Persons in effecting this End loho ivere least 

■ useful at Home, and others tvho from the Reasonableness of 

• the Proposals^ should voluntarily jjrofer their Service: To re- 

■ store Liberty and Happiness to those who, oppressed by the 
*■ common Misfortunes of Mankind, icere groaning under the 
' Consequences of those Misfortunes, and incapable to serve 
' themselves or Country at Home: And lastly,^© set a Foot such 
' neiv Manufactures as might be most useful to support the Col- 
' ony, or tend to rectify the Ballance of Trade of Great Britain 
' with Neighbouring Nations. A Design truly great, founded 
' on the the justest Policy, and practicable : To suggest that any 
' low private Design was ever laid down, that might tend to make 
' the Adventurers Slaves, or, at best, Tenants at Will ; or that it 
' was a Concert to leave the Industry and Substance of the Set- 
' tiers exposed to satisfy the Ambition or Covetousness of an after 

• Governor, or any particular Courtier or Party ; or to imagine 

• that the Honourable Board of Trustees, or any of them, could 
' be capable of such a Concert ; 1 say, Sir, that such a Thought 

• were impious. What Wonder then, if Numbers of Persons, 
' encouraged by his Majesty's most amjjle Rights and Privileges 
' granted in his Royal Charter to the Honourable Trustees, for 
' the Behalf of the Inhabitants ; from the beautiful Description 

• of the Fertility of the Soil and Happiness o{ the Climate; and 
' lastly, from a View that Mr. Oglethorpe, a Gentleman of the 
' greatest Humanity and Generosity, was willing to sacrifice his 

• Ease, and all those Pleasures and Enjoyments which his easy 
' Circumstances of Life intitled him to, in order to be the Pa- 

■ tron and Father of the Distress'd, and the distinguished, Friend 
of his Country, Society, and Humane Nature ; 1 say. Sir, 

■ no Wonder if Numbers, upon those Views, embark'd their 
' Persons, Families and Fates in such an Adventure. Shall any 

• Thing then intervene to render such a noble Design abortive, 
' and frustrate those of their expected Happiness, or your Excel- 
lency of your deserved Honour ? GOD FORBID ! 

' This Colony consists of two Sorts of People; eitlier those 

■ whom the Publick sent over and supported, or* Volunteers, who 

• were not burthensome to the Publick ; both now I look upon in 

* By this Word was meant those Persons who feitleti in Georgia upon their 
own Ex pence. 



46 

the same Light ; as either Party have exhausted tlieir Supj)ort 
or private Stocks, in endeavourini; to prosecute the intended 
Plan; but it shall sufiice for my Argument, that so many of 
each Kind have applied themselves to this Purpose, as are 
sufficient to confirm tlie Experiment, that it is im})ossible for 
us with British or Foiy;i<rn Ser\ants, to afford the lowest 
Necessaries of Life, much less to increase our Stocks, or defray 
the many Exigencies and Disappointments that this Soil and 
Climate are inevitahbj exposed to : This I take to be granted ; 
and would to God the Success of the Colony depended on the 
Laying the most satisfijing Proof of it ! And as for Persons 
who, from selfish Views, have imposed upon the Credulity of 
the Honourable Trustees, by representing Things in Colours 
distant from Truth, it were superfluous to curse them. I do not 
say, but in Time Manufactures may be founded more suitable 
to the Strength and Constitution of British Servants, that 
might support and enrich the Colony ; 1 heartily pray for that 
happy Period ; and should then condemn and dissent from any 
who would tiot be content witli the present Regulation ; but as 
in the Interim Production of Necessaries is absolutely requisite, 
and under the present Establishment impracticable ; it follows 
of Course, that either the Scheme must be altered, or the De- 
sign abandoned: At the first it was a Trial, now it is an Experi- 
ment ; and certainly no Man or Society need be asham'd to 
own, that from unforeseen Emergencies their Hypothesis did 
misgive ; and no Person of Judgment would censure for Want 
of Success where the Proposal was probable ; but all the World 
would exclaim against that Person or Society who, through 
mistaken Notions of Honour or Positiveness of Temper, would 
persist in pushing an Experiment contrary to all Probability, 
to the Ruin of the Adventurers. How many Methods may be 
found out by the Wisdom of the Trustees, for Remedying this 
Inconvenience, I know not ; One only occurs to me, which is, 
the Admitting a certain Number of Negroes, suflicient to case 
the white Servants from those Labours tliat are most fatal to a 
British Constitution : I am very sensible of the Inconvenien- 
cies of an unlimited Use of them in a Frontier Colony ; but am 
as sensible, that those Inconveniencles may be prevented b\' 
prudent Regulations ; and their Admission for executing the 
more laborious Parts of Culture, made the Means to attract 
Numbers of white Servants, who would otherwise fly the Place 
as a Purgatory or Churncl-House. If our Labour and Toil is 
' not capable of producing mere Necessaries by Cultivation of 
' Land, much less by Trade : For as all the neighbouring Colo- 
nies, by Reason of their Negroes, prosecute all Branches of it 



47 

• at a sixth Part of the Expence we can ; they would ibrever 
' preclude us of any Benefit therefrom. And supposhig, wliat 
' cannot be admitted, that the Nation would consent to give a 
' perpetual Fund for making up all those Deficiencies, What 
' Benefit could ever accrue to the Nation? or What to the Set- 
' tiers but a present bare Sustenance ? and What the certain 
' Consequence but the Bequeathing a numerous Legacy of Or- 
■• phans to the Care of Providence, since no Period of Time can 
' be affixed when such a Support would enable us to })rovide for 
' ourselves ? A second Reason which disables us to improve 
' either by Land or Trade, is our JVant of Credit: You know 
' very well, that both the mercantile and mechanick Part of 

• Mankind, live more by Credit than Stock; and the ftlan who 
•' has a probable Scheme of improving Credit, is naturally entided 

• to it : As we have no Stock further to dispense, either in Cultiva- 
tion or Trade, we are reduced to need the Support of Credit; 
which the present Restrictions of our legal Rights and Titles to 
our Land deprive us of: It is true, indeed the Trustees have 
assured us, That those and other Restrictions are only Tempo- 
rary, and for the Welfare of the frsi Setthrnent, until a proper 
Body of Laivs, which was upon the Carpet, should be perfected ; 
and I am far from disputing the Reasonabienass of that Resolution, 
while either iXxepublick Support ov private Stocks kept us from 
needing Credit; but that now the Case is alter'd, the Necessity 
of Removing those Restrictions is arrived, to preserve the 
llemains of the Colony not yet dissolved, and far too late for 
Hundreds whom Necessity has dispersed in other Corners oi 
the World : This is a Truth, Sir, too obvious to need further 
Enlargement. 

' Hence it is clear, we can insist on dem.anding our Privileges 
as British Subjects, from the Trustees Promises ; but we like- 
wise claim them as Law, Justice and Property. Your Excel- 
lency was pleased, in the Court-House of Savannah, to use a 
Comparison to satisfy the Minds of the People, of a Man who 
would lend his Horse but not his Saddle, which one rtfusino- 
another accepted of: This, I humbly take it, no Ways meets 
the Case ; the King's Majesty was Owner both of Horse and 
Saddle, of Lands and Rights, and gave us6o«:Ainhis Charter; 
we ask but what is there given us. The Reliance on the Pub- 
lick Faith brought us to this Colony ; and to endeavour to ob- 
viate or disappoint the Effects of those Promises which tempted 
us here, were to justify the Decoying us to Misery, under the 
Sanction of the Royal Authority, than which Nothing could be 
more injurious to the Fountain of Honour. I shall suppose, 
that were full and ample Rights given, that some idle Persons, 



48 

' wlio h;id no Judgment to value or Inclination lo iinjirove their 

• Properties, no Affections for their Families or Relations, mi^ht 

• dispose of their Riirhts for a a lass of Rum; but 1 absolutely 

• deny, that the Colony could lose by sitcli an Exchant^e : 1 owli 
' such Persons were much safer if hound tlian at JAberty ; but 

• where the Affection of the Parent and the Reason of the Man 
' die, the Person is a fitter Inhabitant for Moor fields than Geor- 
' gia. I must notice further, That not only are Parents incapa- 
' ble, for ffant of Credit, to provide for themselves, beini^ 

• necessitated to dispose of their Servants for want of Provisions'; 
' but if iJiey couW, only their eldest Son could reap the Benefit' 

• then- youui^rer Children, however numerous, are left to be fed 
' by Hun who feeds the Ravens; and if they have no Children, 
■ their Labour and Substance descends to Strangers : How, Sir, 
'^ could you, or indeed any free-born Spirit, brook such a Tenor? 
' Are not our younger Children and Daughters equally e7ititled to 

• our Bowels and Affections? And does humane Nature end with 
' our First-born, and not extend itself to the Rest of our Progeny 
I and more distant Relations ? And is it not inverting the Order 
' of Nature, that the eldest Son should not only en]oy a double 
' Portion, but. exclude all the younger Children? and having an 
' Interest indcpendant of the Parents, how natural is it he should 

• withdraw that Obedience and Subjection which proceeds from 
'^ paternal Authority and filial Dependance ! The Trustees 
' are but a Channel to convey to us the King's Rights, and cannot 
' in Law or Equity, and, I dare say, ivill not abridge thole 
' Rights. Can we suppose that we are singled out for a State 
' of Misery and Servitude, and that so many Honourable Per- 
' sonages are Instruments of it ? Far be the Thoughts from us ! 
' The Genius of the British Nation, so remarkably zealous for 
' Liberty and the Rights of ManJdnd, will never suffer British 
' Subjects, who have not fled their Country for Crimes, but 
' voluntarily proffered their Service, and risqued their ALL, upon 

' the Confidence of the Publick Faith and the Trustees Honour, 
' to accomplish a Settlement upon the most dangerous Point 
' of his Majesty's Dominions; I say, it will never allow such to 
' be clepriv'd of publicJc Promises of the 7iatural Liberties of 
I British Subjects. As we are on a Frontier, where our Lives 
' and Fortunes may more frequently come into dispute than other 
' People's ; our Privileges and Supports should be proportionably 
' greater; for who would venture his Life to secure no Property, 
' or fight to secure to himself Poverty and Misery ; and no doubt 
' our cunning and vigilant Adversaries, the French and Spaniards 
' would know how to make their own Advantage : The King 
' has been very gracious, and your Endeavours generous and 



49 

^ useful, in procurinu; a Regiment for our Proteclion ; but let iiic 
' add a Truth equally certain, that only the Flourishing of the 
' Colony can support tJiof Regment ; and not only the Siqyport 
' of the Soldiers, but your own Honour, Glory and Reimtettion 
' are intermixed with the Fate of the Colony, and must stand or 
' fall with it. 

' To come closer to the Point, please to consider the Conse- 
' quences of Refusing the Representation of the Colony, whereof 
' your Excellency as one of the Honourable Board will be fur- 

• nished with a Copy, and how these Consequences may affect 
' the Colony, the Nation, the Trustees, the Military Es- 
' TABLiSHMENT in this Province, the Indians mtrf YourExcel- 
' lency. 

' As to the COLONY, the deferring hitherto the necessary 
' Relief, has already too tragically affected it, by dispersing a 

• great Part of the Inhabitants ; the Remainder, in a languishing 
' Condition, supported more with faiiit Hopes and a continued 
' Reliance on the Honour of the Nation and Trustees, than 
' Victuals ; while want and meagree Famine guard the Door of 
' many, and render them equally incapable to stay or go : The 
' Town, so beautifully situated to the Honour of the Contriver, 
' bearing the most visible Signs of Decay and Mortality before 
' it is fully born ; and the once cultivated Plantations now over- 
' grown with Weeds and Brush, are so many Hicjacets of such 
' and such Persons and Families ! I wish it were possible to draw 
' a Veil over this tragicJc Scene ! But, Sir, our Corse is more 

• clamant than a thousand Tongues, and will reach the Ears and 
•' pierce the Hearts of every TRUE RRITON. If such the 
' Effects of Delay, whaX will the total Dissolution of the Colony 
' produce ? Such a Body of miserable People, Orphans and 

• Suppliants, will be heard by the Justice of the Nation; and if 
•' it shall appear, that the too positively adhering to an impracti- 
' cable Scheme, and the refusing those obvious Means that would 

' answer the proposed End, or with-holding those just Rights 
' which we are entitled to, have been the Cause ; we should have 

• Right to recover Damages from the Authors of our Miseries. 

• In all Places where Settlements were attempted by the English. 
' and found untenable, the Settlers were taken Home upon Pub- 

• lick Charge, their Losses recompensed, and they made other- 

• wise Useful to the Community ; while we are neither allowed 

• to do for ourselves here or elsewhere. As to the second Point, 

• how the NATION would be affected by it ; it is first obvious, 
- That all the noble Ends and Advantages they propos'd are lost, 

• and Sums of Money expended to no Purpose but to inform the 

• French and Spaniards of the Importance of a Pass which fhey 



50 

would not full to possesf*. li w(>re impossible lo make a second 
Settlement upon the present Plan ; and if it is to be altered m 
the Favours of others, why not of us who ha\-e risqued and 
spent our a// in the Adventure? How the TRUSTEES may 
be affected by it in all Respects, I shall not say; a Farliamen- 
tary Enquiry into their Management, I no ways question but 
they could entirely satisfy; but all good Men will regret, that so 
Honourable a Body should lose that Glory and Fame wliich the 
prosperous Success of the Colony would have crown'd them 
with. I have formerly asserted, that only the flourishing State 
of the Colony can support the MILITARY ; and indeed with- 
out a Colony, it were easier to maintain a Garrison in Tangier 
on the Coast of Africa, than in the South of Georgia. One 
*' Regiment woidd little suffice to withstand the Enemy ; and yet 
so small an Handful may be reduced to Discontent, Straits and 
Wants, notwithstanding all the Bounty of a King or Prut/encc 
of a General. As to the INDIANS ; What could we expect 
less than being scorned and despised ? That they should imme- 
diately fall in with the tempting Proffers of the French and 
Spaniards, and so Great Britain cut ofi' from that valuable 
Branch of the Indians Trade ? For how indeed could they 
expect Execution of Treaties or Protection from People who, 
imthout the Force of any Enemy, could not preserve their own 
Schemes of Government from falling to Pieces ? How the 
Tragedy must affect YOUR EXCELLENCY would be Pre- 
sutnption m me to determine: I only know, that to see Those 
yon lioiiour with the Name of Children, in Want and Misery ; 
that Settlement which should have perpetuated your Name to 
Posterity with the greatest Honour ; become the Foil of all 
your great Undertakings ; and the Expectations of all the World; 
from your promising Endeavours, setting in a Cloud and Ob- 
scurity ; must affect Your Excellency in a Way suitable to your 
human and generous Disposition. 

' Sir, We still love, honour and respect you, (whatever low 
selfish minded Persons, the Bane of Society, may surmise to 
the contrary) and will continue to do so, while we can have any 
Hopes of your pursuing Measures consistent with our Prosperi- 
ty : But, Sir, Smiles cannot be expected amidst Disappoint- 
ments and Wants ; and there is no altering the Course of Nature ; 
Love and Gratitude are the TrWmte of Favours and Protection , 
and Resentment the Consequence af Injuries received ; and in 
Disappointments of this Nature much more reasonably than in 
those of Love, do the contrary Passions take Place in the same 
Degree. What then remains, but that you embrace those 
obvious Measures, that will retrieve our desperate Affairs; 



51 

* restore to us, in Mr. Oglethorpe, our Father and Protector, 
' whose Honour and Affection was depended upon; secure to 
' yourself a Society that love and honours you, and who will 
' always be ready to sacrifice both Life and Fortune to your 
' Honour and Protection ; and your Name with Blessings will be 
' perpetuated. If in this I have, by a sincere and xveU-meant Free- 
' dom, given Offence, I heartily ask Pardon; none was intended: 
' And I only request, that, while Truth keeps the Stage, the 
' Author may be allowed to remain incog, behind the Scenes^ 
I am, SIR^ Your, &;c. 

The PLAIN-DEALER. 

THIS Year there was promised a Bounty of Two Shillings 
Sterling on every Bushel of Corn, and One Shilling on every 
Bushel of Pease and Potatoes, raised in the County of Savan- 
nah: This induc'd some few to plant; but they were miserably 
deceived; for few or none of them ever received their full 
Bounty, and not many any Part thereof, (allho' if they had 
received it twice over, it could not have answer'd the End:) 
People being thus, by a Chain of Disappointments and Miseries, 
most of them rendered incapable to subsist, and toward the End 
of this Summer, beginning to dispair of having any favourable 
Answer to their Representation, or Hopes of Redress, left the 
Colony faster than ever ; and when the Answer (or rather Denial) 
came over, they went in such Numbers that the whole Province 
of South- Carolina was overspread with them, and in and about 
the Town of Charlestoiim alone, this Autumn, above Fifty 
Georgians died in Misery and Want, most of whom were buried 
at the Publick Charge. 

IN September a printed Paper, entitled, An Answer to the 
Representation, ^'c. was sent over, and arrived at Savannah: 
and of which this is an exact Copy. 

The ANSWER of the Trustees for establishing the Colony 
of Georgia in America, to the Representation from the 
Inhabitants of Savannah, the 9th of December, 1738, for 
altering the Tenure of the Lands, and introducing Negroes 
into Georgia. 
To the Magistrates of the Toum of Savannah, in the Pro- 
vince of Georgia. 
' nnHE Trustess for establishing the Colony of Georgia in 
' America, have received by the Hands of Mr. Benjamin Ball 
' of London, Merchant, an attested Copy of a Representation, 
' signed by You the Magistrates, and many of the Inhabitants of 
Savannah, on the 9th of Decemhtr last, for altering the Tenure 



52 



'of iho Lands, and introducinir Neoroes into the Provi,Tr<. 

• transnntted fron. thence by Mr/i?o/.", m'/C-v! ""' 

Ihe Imstees are not surprized to find unwary People drawn 

' Sed for ll T '" ^^^'''"'"" "' ^''^' ^^""^'^mentul Laws, 
' Deigns. 1 ^•^^^•^^'^t.on of the People, fron, those ver; 

' Yo^ie M^!^^'n''f' ^=^""«^.^"'\^,^Pre3s their Astonishment, that 

' Se ifv fn- ',"^^'^'1^^'^ ^^ '^'^*" to be Guardians of the 
People, by putting those Laws in Execution, should so far 

' A^r ""'"'' "^° i"^ ^°"^^^^^- ^' ^1- He.;;; o^t^i 

^ swe^dhe % '"T' ^Z '° °r^ ^^"^ Con.plainants this An- 
'veiT Zfo tlPT ?' ^^^^S^^.^^y ^l^o^I'i ^ieem themselves 

' greatest rs"^/' T p ^ ' Constitution, framed with the 
' fnd of w^it T r' ' P^-'r^^-^'^tion of Liberty and Property; 

Lntad o Lands, are the surest Foundations. 
' TTnV. ^'^^.|rustees are theniore confirmed in their opinion of the 
Un.easonableness of tins Demand, that they have received Pet^! 
.ons rom the Danen, and other Parts of the Province represe- 

' S,'rof;rp""""r' I>-V-r,whichmustariseto uLlo'd 
' rAleT P;7^'"^^;^™'» the Introduction of Negroes. And 

' nVzL^^tS^^^^^ 77^ f T ''"^^'y ^•"^^"^-'^^' ^'-^ besides the 
Hazaid attendmg tha Intror/ action, it would destroy all Indus- 

try among the white Inhabitants; and that by givin. them a 
Power to ahen then- Lands, the Colony woukf so^on he too Ike 
1^ Neighbours, voK of white Inha])itants, filled with Blact 
and reduced to be the precarious Property of a Few, ec aud y' 
exposed to Domest ck Treacherv <^n\ fL/ t • ^^"'"^^ 
' therpfnr^ iNo T^ / Aredciery, and J^ oreign Invasion; and 
theieloie the Trustees cannot be supposed to be in any Disno- 
Umnoi grantmgthis Request; and if they have not bXe 

' and Fxn! ''' ' '!r^^^''' '^''y b^^ <'<^^-^^yed, tliat Time 
' utd ^ZTfU T^'^ ^™^^ '^'' Complainants to a better 
' AmL t^P b^T^stees readily join Issue with them in their 
' theii bei f' T^^'-;;^" shall judge between them, who were 
en best Friends; Those, who endeavoured to preserve for 

' XiL p'""^-"^ '^'''' ^^"^•^' ^y tyi"§"Pthe Handsof th i 
untlnifty Progenitors ; or They, who wanted a Power to mort- 
gage or alien them : Who we/e the best Friends to the cZy 

'fS'aCol "''r^ir\V^'"'^ ^"^ ^-^ b-^ endeavoured To' 
form a Colony ol Ilis Majesty's Subjects, and persecuted Pro- 



53 

' tcstanfs from other Parts of Europe, had placed them on a 
' fruitful Soil, and strove to secure them in their Possessions, by 
' those Arts which naturally tend to keep the Colony full of 
' useful and industrious People, capable both to cultivate and de- 
' fend it; or Those, who, to gratify the greedy and ambitious 
' Views of a few Negroe Merchants, would put it into their Power 
' to become sole Owners of the Province, by introducing their 
' baneful Commodity ; which, it is well known by sad Experience, 
' has brought our INeighbour Colonies to the Brink of Ruin, by 
'■ driving out their white Inhabitants, who were their Glory and 
' Strength, to make room for Black, who are now become the 
' Terror of their unadvised Masters. 

Si2;ned by Order of the Trvstees, 

this 20th Day of June, 1739. 

Benj. Marty n, Secretary. 

WE shall not in this Place detain the Reader, to shew the 
Absurdity and Insufficiency of the Reasons made use of in the 
ubove Paper, or how improperly it is called an Answer to the 
Representation ; but refer them to the whole Tenor of this Nar- 
rative. With this Paper came over new Commissions ior Magis- 
trates, viz. Messrs. Thomas Christie, First, John Fallowfield, 
Second, and Thomas Jones, Third, Bailiffs, and Mr. Wiiliam, 
Williamson, Recorder: And, as if the Inhabitants had not been 
sufficiently punished before, by the arbitrary Government of 
Causton, the Two Offices of Store-keeper and Magistrate were 
again joined in One Person, which infiUibly renders him (whoever 
he \s) absolute in Savannah; and indeed, if the Miseries and 
Hardships of the People could have received any Addition, they 
must have done so from the Person appointed to execute those 
Offices, namely, Mr. Thomas Jones, Third Bailiff, as before 
mentioned, who surpass'd Mr. Causton in every Thing that was 
bad, without having any one of his good Qualifications ; And 
that he might the more easily govern at Pleasure, Mr. Os^Iethoiye 
thought proper to supersede the Commissions of Messrs. Tho- 
mas Christie and William Williamson, and continued Mr. Henry 
Parlcer as First Magistrate, being sure he was a Person that 
would always be in the Interest of whoever was Store-keeper, 
and having no other Magistrate to cope with but Mr. Falloivfield, 
they were certain of over-ruling him, tho' his Sentiments were 
never so just ; and when the General heard that some People 
justly complain'd, that the Trustees Commissions ivere of none 
Effect, he threatned an arm VI Force if they refused to comply. 

William Stephens, Esq ; Messrs. Thomas Christie and Thomas 
Jones, were likewise appointed to inspect into Caustoii^s Accounts ; 
but Christie was altogether rejected by the other Two } nor did 



54 

they ever do any Thing to the Purpose : Indeed Jones would 
sometimes hector and domineer over Causton, in as haughty a 
Manner as ever he had fomierly done over the meanest Person 
in SavntiJiah. 

ALTHO' the Trustees say in their Answer to the Represen- 
tation, That they should think themselves very U)ifit for the Trust 
reposed in them, should they by ari irrational Attempt alter the 
Entail of Lands ; yet not one Month after we had received the 
aforesaid Answer, over comes the following Paper, viz. 

The RESOLUTIONS of the Trustees for establishing the 
Colony of Georgia in America, in Common- Council assem- 
bled this '•28th Day of August in the Year of our Lord 
1739; relating to the Grants and Tenure of Lands within 
the said Colony. 
\1^^ HEREAS the Common-Council of the said Trustees, 
assembled for that Purpose, in the Name of the Corpora- 
tion of the said Trustees, and under their Common Seal, have, 
in Pursuance of His Majesty's most gracious Letters Patent, 
and in Execution of the Taists thereby reposed in them, grant- 
ed and conveyed divers Portions of the Lands, Tenements and 
Hereditaments in the said Letters Patent mentioned, to many 
of his Majesty's loving Subjects, natural born, and Denizens, 
and others willing to become His Subjects, and to live under 
Allegiance to His Majesty in the said Colony, to hold to them 
respectively, and to the Heirs Male of their respective Bodies, 
lawfully begotton, or to be begotton, under the several Rents, 
Reservations, Conditions and Provisoes therein contained ; And 
whereas it hath been represented to the said Tmstees, that many 
of the Persons to whom such Grants have been made, have no 
Issue Male of their respective Bodies, and that an Alteration in 
the Grants and Tenure of the said Lands, upon Failure of 
such Issue, and likewise a known certain Provision for the 
Widows of Tenants in Tail Male, would not only encourage all 
such Persons chearfully to go on with their several Improve- 
ments, but also be an Inducement and Means of inviting divers 
other Persons to resort to, and settle in the said Colony, and 
greatly tend to the Cultivation of the Lands, the Increase of 
the People, and the Defence, Strength and Security of the said 
Colony ; wliich the said Trustees most earnestly desire to pro- 
mote, as far as in them hes : It is therefore this Day unanimous- 
ly resolved by the Common Council of the said Corporation, 
assembled for that Purpose, That the Grants of Lands or 
Tenements within the said Colony heretofore made and hereaf- 
ter to be nnade by the said Trustees to any Person or Persons 



do 

• whatsoever, shall be altered, made and cstablislied in Manner 

• and Form following; that is to say, That 

' If Tenant in Tail Male of Lands or Tenements in the said 
' Colony, not having done or suffered any Act, Matter or Thing, 
' whereby his Estate therein may be forfeited or determined, shall 

• happen to die, leaving a Widow and one or more Child orChil- 
' dren ; that then, and in such Case, the Widow of such Tenant 
' shall hold and enjoy the Dwelling-House and Garden (if any 
' such there be) and one Moiety of such Lands and Tenement? 
' for and during the Term of her Life ; the said Moiety to be set 
' out and divided, in case the Parties interested therein do not 
' agree within the Space of three Months, by the Magistrates of 
' the Town-court in Georgia nearest thereunto, or any one of 
' them. And in case such Division be made by one of snch 
' Magistrates only, then any Person or Persons finding him, her 
' or themselves aggrieved thereby, may within the Space of three 
' Months appeal to the other three Magistrates of the said Town- 

• court, whose Determination thereof shall be final. A?id if such 
' Tenant shall happen to die, leaving only a Widow, and no 
' Child or Children, then that such Widow shall hold and enjoy 
' the said Dwelling-house, Garden, and all such Lands and 
' Tenements, for and during the Term of her Life. And in case 
' the Widow of any such Tenant, whether he die without Issue 
' by her or not, shall marry again after his Decease, then such 
' Person to whom she shall be so married, shall, within the Space 
' of Twelve Months after such Marriage, give Security to the 
' said Trustees, and their Successors, whether Personal, or other- 
' wise, agreeable to such Instructions as shall be given by the 
' Common Council of the said Trustees, for maintaining and 
' keeping in repair, during such Marriage, the said Dwelling- 
' house, Garden, and other the Premises to which she shall be 
' so intitled in right of her former Husband : And if such Secur- 
' ity shall not be given in manner aforesaid, within the Space of 
'' twelve Months after such Marriage, that then, and in such Case, 
' the Provision hereby made, or intended to be made for the 
' Benefit of such Widow, shall cease, determine and be absolutely 
' void, to all Intents and Purposes ; and the said Dwelling-house 

• and Garden, and all and singular the Premises, shall be and enure 
' to such Child or Children or to such other Person or Persons, 
' who would be intitJed to the same, in case the said Widow was 

• naturally dead. 

' And if Tenant in Tail Male of Lands or Tenements in the 
' said Colony, not having done or suffered any Act, Matter or 
' Thing, whereby his or her Estate therein may be forfeited or 

• determined, shall happen to die, leaving one or more Daughter, 



56 

or daughters and no Issue Male ; then tlial such Lands and Tene- 
ments, if not exceeding eighty Acres, shall be holden in Tail Male 
by any one of the Daughters of such Tenant ; and if exceeding 
eighty Acre?, by any one or more of the Daughters of such Te- 
nant in Tail Male, as such Tenant shall by his or her last Will and 
Testament in Writing, duly executed in the Presence of three 
or more crebible Witnesses, direct and appoint ; and in Default 
of such Direction or A})pointment, then that such Lands and 
Tenements shall be holden in Tail Male by the eldest of such 
Daughters ; and in Default of Issue Male and Female, either 
born in the Life-time of such Tenant in Tail Male, or withlit 
nine Months after his Decease, then that such Lands and Tene- 
ments, if not exceeding eighty Acres, shall be holden in Tail 
Male by any one such Person; and if exceeding eighty Acres, 
by any one or more such Person or Persons, as such Tenant in 
Tail IVIale by his or her last Will and Testament in Writings 
executed as aforesaid, shall direct and appoint, and in Default 
of such Direction or Appointment, then that such Lands and 
Tenements shall be holden in Tail Male by the Heir at Law of 
such Tenant; subject nevertheless, in all any every the said 
Cases, to such Right of the Widow (if any) as aforesaid, 
Provided That such Daughter or Daughters, and all and every 
such Person or Persons so intitled to hold and enjoy any such 
Lands and Tenements, do within the Space of twelve Months 
after the Death of such Tenant, personally appear, if residing 
in America, and claim the same in any of the Town-courts in 
Georgia ; and if residing out of America, then within the 
Space of Eighteen Months next after the Death of such Tenant. 
And Provided also, That no such Devise or Appointment shall 
be made by any such Tenant of Lands exceeding eighty 
Acres, in any lesser or smaller Portion or Parcel tljan fifty 
Acres to any one Daughter, or other Person. And that no 
Daughter, or other Person shall be capable of enjoying any 
Devise, which may thereby increase his or her former Possession 
of Lands within the said Colony to more than Five Hundred 
Acres ; but such Devise to be void, and the Lands thereby 
given, to descend in such manner as if no such Devise had been 
made. And. in Default of such Appearance and Claim, as 
aforesaid. That all and singular the said Lands and Tenements 
shall be and remain to the said Trustees, and their Successors 
for ever. Provided also. That all and every such Estates 
hereby created or intended to be created, shall be subject and 
liable to the several Rents, Reservations, Provisoes and Condi- 
tions, as in the original Grants thereof are particularly mention- 
ed and eontained ; save and except so much thereof as is hereby 



57 

' altered, or intended to be altered, in case of Failure of Issue 
" Male, and the Provision hereby made or intended to be made 

* for Widows. 

' And that in every Grant hereafter to be made by the said 
' Trustees or their Successors, of any Lands or Tenements in the 
' said Colony, all and every Grantee therein named, not doino- or 
' suffering any Act, Matter or Thing whereby his or her Est'ate 
' thereni may be forfeited or determined, shall have good Right, 
' full Power, and lawful Authority to give and devise the same 
' by his or her last Will and Testament in Writing, duly exe- 
' cuted in the Presence of three or more credible Witnesses, in 

* manner and form following, that is to say, Every Grantee of 
' Lands not exceeding eighty Acres, to any one Son or any one 
' Daughter in Tail Male ; and every Grantee of Lands exceeding 
' eighty Acres, the whole, or any part thereof, but not in lesser 
' Lots or Portions than fifty Acres to any one Devisee, to his or 
' her Son or Sons, Daughter or Daughters in Tail Male ; and in 
' Default of such Devise as aforesaid," then that such Lands and 
' Tenements shall descend to the eldest Son in Tail Male ; and in 
' Default of Issue Male, to the eldest Daughter in Tail' Male ; 
' and in Default of Issue Male and Female, then that such Lands 
' and Tenements shall be holden in Tail Male, if not exceedino- 
' eighty Acres, by any one such Person; and if exceedincr eightlj 
' Acres, by any one or more such Person or Persons, but not in 
' any smaller Lot or Portion t\mn fifty Acres to any one Person 
' as such Grantee shall by his or her last Will and Testament in 
' Writmg, executed as aforesaid, direct and appoint ; and in 
' Default of such Direction or Appointment, then that such Lands 

■ and Tenements shall be holden in Tail Male by the Heir at 
' Law of such Grantee ; subject nevertheless to such Riaht of the 
^ Widow (if any) as aforesaid, Provided ahvays, Thai no Son 
- Daughter or other Person shall be capable of enioyin<r any 
' Devise which may thereby increase his or her former Possession 
' ot Land within the said Colony, to more than five Hundred 

• Acres ; but such Devise to be void, and the Lands thereby ajven 

■ to descend in such manner as if no such Devise had been made' 
' Provided also, That such Son or Sons, Daughter or Daughters' 

■ and all and every such Person or Persons intitled to hold and 
' enjoy any such Lands and Tenements, do within the Space of 
^ twelve Months Kiier the Death of such Grantee, or o{ thos- 

• under whom they claim, personally appear, if residing in Amer- 

• tea and claim the same in any of the Town-courts in Georo-ia ■ 
' and if residing out of America, then within the Space of M 

' teen Months next after such Death; and in Delkult of such 
" Appearance and Claim as aforesaid. That all and singular the 



56 



^ said Lands and Tenements shall be and remain to_ the said 
' Trustees and their Successors for ever. And Provided also, 
' That all and every such Estates shall be subject and liable to 
' the like Rents, Reservations, Provisoes and Conditions, as in 
' the former Grants of Lands heretofore made, save and except 
' so much thereof as is hereby altered, or intended to be altered, 
' upon the Failure of Issue Male. „,,.,,,. ^ , 

^And it is hereby required, That Publick Notice of these 
' Resolutions be forthwith given by the Magistrates of the 
' respective Town-courts in Georgia, and also by the Secretary 
' of the said Trustees in London, that all and every the Grantees 
' of Lands or Tenements within the said Colony^ may enter 
' their respective Claims, either at the Georgia Office near Old 
' Palace Yard in Westminister, or in any of the Town-courts m 
' Georgia, within the Space of tirelve Months from the Date 
' hereol-, to the end that ihey may receive the Benefit hereby 
' intended, and that proper Grants and Conveyances m the Law 
' may be forthwith prepared and executed lor that Purpose. 
* And it is hereby expressly declared, That no Fee or Reward 
' shall be taken for the Entering of any such Claim, directly or 
' indirectly, by any Person or Persons whatsoevei'. 

Si^med bu Order of the said Common Louncil, 
* Benjamin Martyn, Secretary. 

WE believe this Paper will perplex most People, who have 

not thoroughly studied the Law, to make Sense of it; and as 

there were no Lawyers in Georg-io, it would seem as if it had 

been sent over with no other End, than that it shovdd not be 

understood; and indeed it rather tended to add to the Confusions 

in the Colony, than to promote the Benefit ot it: We can only 

assure the Reader, that it had no good Effect m Georgia, and 

that it was kept up there as much as possible from the Peop e, 

only a fictitious Abridgment thereof, with the same Title and the 

same Way signed, being publickly exhibited m Writing ; but tlris 

xvas a needles's Caution ; for not One \n Twenty o( ihem would 

have understood any one Paragraph of It. In October, I i39 

the General issues out his Proclamation for Granting r^fersof 

Marque and Reprisals; and the Inhabitants being called togethei 

in the Court-House, he there makes them a very elaborate 

Speech, and, amongst other Things, tells them, ^hathewa 

design^d against St. Augustine, and if he did not taJce it, he 

Zm leave his Bones before the Walls thereof: B.t he ,s now 

at Frederica, and, as we have too much_ Reason to believe, his 

Castle is still in the Hands of the Spaniard. A little after this 

we had another Instance how much our Benefactors had cm 



59 

Interest and Welfaio at Heart ; for at this Time it was given out. 
That all the Cattle that iverc wimark\l, belonged to the Trustees 
as Lords of the Mannor; and Orders were given that they should 
be mark'd accordingly ; but People strenuously insisting to the 
Contrary, the Design was dropt for that Time. On the Ath of 
November Mr. Oglethorpe departed from Savannah; and he 
now seems to have intirely forgot it; and it is certain, that ever 
since the Affair of the Representation, according to his own 
Words, the very Name of the Place is become hateful to him, as 
are all those ivho he thought were Ring-Leaders in that Affair ; 
some of whom he endeavour'd to threaten and bribe to a Recan- 
tation, but to little Purpose ; two or three being the most (to the 
best of our Knowledge) that he could gain, and even those, we 
believe, never gave any Thing under their Hands. One flagrant 
Instance of the indirect Practices he used to draw People into 
his Measures was as follows: *In Summer, 1739, (when it was 
thought the Representation would have succeeded) Messrs. 
Grant, Douglass, Stirling and Bailie, who had been old Set- 
tlers in the Colony, and who had in a manner ruin'd themselves, 
as others had done, either by Planting or Building, wrote to the 
Trustees for an Island, and at the same Time applied to Mr. 
Oglethorpe for it ; he appeared mighty glad at their Resolution, 
and told them, That if they ivould agree to what he had to 
propose, the Granting of an Island should be Nothing iii respect 
to ivhat he tvould do for them: They told him. They would do 
any Thing that toas consistent with their Knowledge and Con- 
science : Then they were dismissed, and the next Day they 
were to know his Mind ; that being come, two of his Emissaries 
were sent separately with Proposals ; which they afterwards wrote 
in order to be signed, but refused a Copy thereof: These Propo- 
sals were to the following Effect, viz. To acknowledge they 
were in the Wrong for having any Hand in the Making or 
Signing the Representation ; to ask the General's Pardon for so 
doing ; and to assert, that they believed the Colony might flourish 
accwding to the then present Constitution : These Things com- 
plied with, they should have what Money they were pleas'd to 
ask for, with Horses, Cattle and every Thing else they wanted, 
together with the General o perpetual Friendship and Assistance: 
If not complied with, they might expect Nothing but his highest 
Resentment. They answered. That they never expected, nor 
did they think they ever asked for any Favours from the Gen- 
eral, and as for his Resentment, they believed they had already 
felt the Utmost of it. In whatever Shape the General wrote 



• There are particular Affidavits to provp tiiis whole Affsir. 



60 



Home of tins Alia.r, is not known; but Jiovvever, from ulmt ho 
wrote, the Trustees thought fit, at first, positively to deny their 
Kequest, jii a Letter which came to their Hands in Ju/u lUO 
of winch this is an exact Copy. 

To Messrs. Grant, Douglass anJ Bailie, at Savannah, mGeorgia. 

y^^"i,lemeil, Georgia-Ojice, March 25, 1710. 

'HL Trustees for cstaUishing the Colony of Georcrm have 
received and read your Letter of May 26, 1139, by which 
they fnd yon have abandoned your Settlements upon the Oaeeche 
J<iver,JortheJoUou-ing Reasons ;hecmse yon are not iillow'd 
to have blacJ. Servants to cultivate your Lands, and because you 
disiik'd the 1 enure oi your Grants. ^ 

As to the First, you'must have seen by the Trustees Answer 
to the Representation of some of the People, that they cannot 
and will not break into the Constitution of the Province bv 
such an Introduction of Slavery in Blacks; and that upon the 
most mature Deliberation, and for the strongest Reasons; which 
indeed are^ obvious to every considering Man, andivhich they arc 
confirm dm by the Danger which has lately threatned South- 
Carolina by the Insurreeiion of the Negroes, and would be more 
imminent in Georgia, it being a Frontier. 

As to the Last, relating to the Tenure of Lands, the Trus- 
tees suppose you may have seen the Alteration ivhich they have 
made since the Writing of your Letter, and they have no doubt 
but you are satisfied therewith, as the rest of the Colony are 

Ihe Irustees have hkeioise received and considered your 
Petition to General Oglethorpe, for a Settlement on Wilminc- 
ton Isl-^d; and his Ansivers thereto, which they think are of 
great Force, and therefore they cannot make you a Grant there 
but hope you will go on improving your Settlements on the 
Ugeeche River, which they perceive by your Letter May 26 
that you had made a great Progress in. 
1 am, Gentlemen, 

Your very Humble Servant, 

Benj. Martyn, Secretary. 

To this they returned the following Answer. 

To the Honour aUe the Trustees for establishing the Colony of 
Georgia in America, at their Office near Old Palace Yard 
Westminister. ' 

Honourable Gentlemen, 

\ Wor!l^^^''?!''^'^ ^ ^^'"'' ''^"^^ by your Secretary, of the 
Zoth March last, owning the Receipt of ours to the Trustees 



61 

for establishing the Colony of Georgia, dated the 26f/t May, 
1739, in which we set forth the Expence we had been at in 
prosecuting our Settlement on the Ogceche River, together 
with tlie Impossibility of carrying on any Settlement with Suc- 
cess in this Colony, according to the present Constitution ; as 
an additional Confirmation of which, we then presented your 
Honours with an Accompt current, carried on from the Com- 
mencement of our Settlement on the Ogeeche, and continued 
till we were drove thence by the strongest Appearances of 
Destruction, arising from the having expended our ALL in the 
strenuous Prosecution of an impracticable Scheme : And here 
we must beg Leave to observe, That it appears to us, you have 
neither considered our Letter or Accompt ; otherwise you never 
would have advis'd us to return to a Place on which we have 
already in vain consumed so much Time and Money. 

' We have seen and seriously considered every Paragraph of 
a printed Paper, entitled, TJic Answer of the Trustees for 
establishing the Colony of Georgia in America, to the Repre- 
sentation from the Inhabitants of Savannah ; which, in our 
humble Opinion, is no Answer at all; but rather an absolute 
Refusal of Demands to which we are legally entitled, under the 
specious Pretences of Guardianship and Fatherly Care ; with- 
out having answer'd one Sentence, or confuted by Strength of 
Argument, any part of our Assertions. 

' Because our Neighbouring Province (of which you are pleas'd 
to lake Notice) has by an Introduction of too great Numbers, 
abus'd the Use of Negroes ; or, because an undoubted Proper- 
ty in our Land Possessions might prove detrimental or hurtful 
to idle, profligate or abandon'd People ; it does not at all follow, 
that we should be debarr'd the Use of Negroes for the Field, 
or the more laborious Parts of Culture, under prudent Limita- 
tions ; or that sober and virtuous Men should be depriv'd of 
just Titles to their Properties. 

' We are surprized that yom* Honours mention the Represen- 
tations of the People of the Darien, as a Confirmation of the 
LTnreasonableness of our Demands : For did your Honours 
know the Motives by which these People were induced to 
present you with one or more Petitions, contradictory to our 
Representation, the Welfare of the Colony, and their own 
Consciences ; we are persuaded you never would have ofFer'd 
them as Reasons for rejecting the Representation from Savan- 
nah : They were bought with a Number of Cattle, and exten- 
sive Promises of future Rewards ; a little present Interest made 
them forget or neglect their Posterity ; whereas the People of 
this Place, duly sensible of the Miseries and Calamities they 



(i'i 

' have suffered, and do i>till labour under, freely and rohininrily 

* put their Hands to the Representation of this Part of the Pro- 
' vince : No artful Means were used to induce tiieni to it ; no 
' artful Man or Men, Negro Merchants or others, persuaded 
' them to it : Dismal Poverty and the most absolute Oppression 
' were the true Fountains from whence our Complaints proceed- 

* ed. But how miserably were these incousideratc deluded 
' Wretches rewarded ? They were soon after carried against iS'^. 
' Augustine, placed on a dangerous Post, where they were all or 
' most of them cut off or taken Prisoners by the Enemy ; which 
' has put a Period to the Settlement of Darien, of which so 
' many great Things have been falsy reported, 

■■' VVitli Regard to our Representation, we shall only beg Leave 
•' to make one Supposition, which it's almost impossible can have 
' happen'd, viz. That this and all the other Representations, 
' Letters, Suits or Petitions, made to the Trustees by private or 
' a joint Number of Persons, have been entirely false and ground- 

* less : What can have reduced the Colony to the Situation m 
' which it now is ? What can have reduc'd it's Inhabitants to 07ie 

* Sixth Part of the Number which we have known to reside 
' here ? Or, lastly, to what is the starving and despicable Condi- 
' tionoi the Few that are now left, owing? Is it not, as well as 

* every other Matter which we have before urg'd, owing to and 
' occasion'd by the unanswerable Reasons at different Times 

* given and laid before your Honours, by honest Men (indepen- 
' dent of you) who were and are the chief Sufferers in this 
' Colony ; and who could not be bribed to conceal or terrify^ d 

* from declaring their Sentiments ? 

' Your Honours may readily and safely join issue with us in 
' our Appeal to Posterity, ivho were their best *Frie7ids, 8fC. for 
' it's certain and obvious, that if the Trustees are resolved to 
' adhere Xo ihe'iY present Constitution, they or their Successors 
' are in no great Danger of being called to any Account by our 
' Posterity in Georgia. 

' We have likewise seen and read the Alterations Mr. Martyn 
' mentions to have been made by your Honours, with regard to 
' the Tenure of Lands ; together with a fictions Abridgement 

* of the same afhx'd lo the most ])ublick Places at Savannah. 

' Mr. Martyn in his Letter is pleas'd to tell us, That your 
' Honours imagine we are satisfied thereivith, as the rest of the 
' Colony are 'I Some few perhaps may have express'd themselves 

* satisfied ; but we will say no worse of such few, than that your 
' Honours will soon be sensible, that even they are Deceivers. 

'^ Vide Answer lo the Representation. 



63 



■ It's true, such Alterations, and the Paper, eniiiled,^n A7isin. 
' toom Representation, above mentioned, a^-e artlully penn d. 
' and will doubtless for a Time, amuse even Men oi the best 
' Sense in Europe, or elsewhere, who are Strangers to the 
' Colony of Georgia; but any Man of common Understanding, 
^ or the least Penetration, who by an nvforivnate Experience, 

• has been well acquainted with that Colony, can easily aemon- 
' strate, that those very Papers are further Snares to increase our 
' Miseries ; as it's impossible we can be enabled by these^^cr- 
^ ations to subsist ourselves and Families any more than belore, 
' far less to put us in a Capacity of recovering our already sunk 
' Fortunes and Loss of Time. Some Time in the Summer 1 ^39, 
^ (whilst we still expected agreeable Alterations to have succecd- 
•' ed our Representation) we applied more than once to Oenera 

• Oglethorpe, as one of the Trustees, for the same Iract ot Land 
' which we have since been refused by your Honours : But our 
- Petitions and Applications were rejected; and for what Kea- 
^ son ? Because indeed we refused to contradict what we had before 

• set forth in our Representation, so md become Vilhans,a3 (wc 
' have to much Reason to believe) some others on the same 
' Occasion were : We wou'd not accept of Sctikments, ^ums oj 
' Money, Horses, Cattle and other valuable Considerations,^ at 

• the Expence of Betraying our Country, and Contradicting 
' our Consciences, by signing a Paper, whicli was prepared and 
^ offered to us, purporting KRepentence of the ]\ieasures we had 
' taken for our own and the Relief of other distress d British 
' Subjects ; and consequently an Approbation oi a Scheme which, 
' by all Appearance, seems to have been calculated and pre- 
' pared to form a Colony of Vassals, whose Properties aiid 
' Liberties were at all Times, to have been dispos d of at the 
' Discretion or Option of their Superiors. _ 

' Such and many other Methods of Corruption h^ve been too 
' often practised in this Colony ; but we refus d and scorn d such 
' Actions, from Principles of which every honest Man ought to 
' be possessed. 

' We are not surprized to find, That we have in vain applied 
' to your Honours in several Affairs, when we see you have been 
' hitherto prepossessed by a Gentleman of superiour Interest 
' with Informations and Assertions full o( Resentment, and which 
^ we well know cannot stand the Test of an impartial Kvamina- 
' tion; but we are amazed and sorry to find, That he has had for 
' so many Years together, the Interest of Nominating 1 hose, who 
^ liave been appointed from Time to Time, for the Administration 
' of Justice,2indm^]i\ngarx impartial Enquiry into and informing 
< your Honours of the re a? Situation of the Colony oi Oeorgta; 



64 

■ wo say, .sucli wlio liave been imjMciiy obedient in caiTyin<;on 

• his arbitrarij Schemes of Government, and opjjressing \he \n- 
' habitants, as well an conniving at the Deceiving your Honours 

• and the Nation ! 

' Gentlemen, As we have no Favours to ask, or Resentments 

• to fear, we may with the greater Freedom observe. That we 
' are in full Hopes, that all we cnn just I y ask, will be granted us 
' by a British Parliament, who we doubt not, will soon make 
' an Enquiry into the Grievances of oppressed Subjects, which 
' have formerly inhabited, or do now inhabit the Colony of Geor- 
' gia ; That Colony which has cost so great an Expence to the 

• Nation, and from which so great Benefits, w^ere promis'd and 
' expected! 

' We are sensible of the Freedoms which have been used with 
' our respective Characters, in the Misrepresentation sent your 
' Honours by partial Men : Nor are we less sensible, that the 
' Majority of the Trustees have been kept in the Dark, with 
' regard to our just Complaints and Representations ; or that 
' such Complaints have been communicated to them in Lights 

• distant from Truth ; insomuch that, we have Reason to believe, 
' tico Thirds of the Honourable Board are either misinform'd of 

• or are entire Strangers to the barbarous and destructive Schemes 
' carried on in this miserable Colony. 

' We hope it will e'er long appear to your Honours and the 

• World (whatever has been advanced to the contrary) That we 
' are honest Men, free from any base Design, free from any 
' rnutinons Spirit ; who have only stood firm for the Recovery 
' of our lost Privileges, which have been secretly and under the 
' most specious Pretences withdrawn from us by some designing 
' and self-interested Men. 

' We should be sorry to write disrespectfully of any one of the 
' Trustees; but when distressed and oppressed People arrive at 
' the last Extremities, it must be supposed, they will neither be 
' asham\l to publish their Misfortunes, or affraid of imputing 
' their Calamities to the Fountain from whence they spring. 

' Far be it from us in any Shape to reflect in general on the 
' Honourable Board, who we still believe are Gentlemen of Ho- 
' nour and Reputation, who would not be accessary to any sinister 
' or base Designs; but we can't help thinking, that they are 
' deluded, and brought to pursue Measures inconsistent with the 
' Welfare and Prosperity of the Colony, by some who of the 
' xohole Corporation are only acquainted with the particular Situa- 
' tion of it ; and who mu^t therefore wilfully and from Design, form 
'■ and prepare destructive Schemes for the perishing Inhabitants 
' of Georgia; and by finfair Representations of Persons and 



65 

Things, draw i\\e Approbation o{ the ojreater Part of the Hon- 
ourable Board, to such Measures for the Oppression of His 
Majesty's Subjects, which they would, if they were impartially 
inform'd, scorn to think of, far less agree to. 
' General Oglethorpe with all his Forces, has been obliged to 
raise the Siege of St. Augustine, and we have Reason to believe 
the impending Ruin of this Colony will be thereby determined ; 
for the Spcmiards are reinforced ; the General's Army harrassed 
and weaken'd, and the Indians provoked and discontented ; so 
that every Thing looks witli the most dismal Aspect. But as 
his Conduct in, and the Consequences of these Affairs, will be 
soon published to the World ; and as we doubt not we have 
already incurred your Honour's Displeasure, by reciting thus 
freely the many Hardships which we have here and formerly 
asserted to have been the Causes of our Ruin ; We shall now 
forbear, and conclude by adding, That the Extremity of our 
Misfortunes has at last rendered us utterly incapable of staying 
here any longer : And tho' all the Money we have expended 
on Improvements in the Colony, is now of no Advantage to us 
here, nor can be elsewhere ; yet poor as we are, we shall think 
ourselves happy when we are gone from a Place where Nothing 
but Poverty and Oppression subsists : Therefore we hope, if 
ever this or any other Paper or Letter of ours shall appear in 
Publick ; your Honours will impute such Publication to have 
proceeded from no other Motives, besides a thorough Know- 
ledge of our Duty to ourselves, our Fellow Subjects and Suf- 
ferers, and to prevent others for the Future from being deluded 
in the same Manner as we have been, who are, with the great- 
test Respect, 

Honourable Gentlemen, 

Your most humble Servants. 

"StusT"^': ^'P'<">' Da.Doughss, 

Wm,. Stirling, Tho. Baillie. 

ABOUT the latter End of May, 1740, Mr. Oglethorpe set 
out with his Regiment for Florida, and soon after the Carolina 
Forces (consisting of about Six Hundred Men) joined him, with 
about Throe Hundred Indians, and Sixty High-Landers Vo- 
lunteers from Darien, who were buoyed up by the General with 
the mighty Hopes of Reward ; besides several Stragglers and 
Boatmen from other Parts of the Province and elsewhere ; so that, 
exclusive of six Men of War, there might be about fifteen 
Hundred effective Men asssisting at the Siege (as it was called) 
q( the Castle of St. Augustine '■ But we shall take no further 
Notice of this Affair, thaB as it ha^ affecte^l or may still affect 



66 

lliL' Colony of Georgia : The Place being alarm'd, the High" 
Landers, with some others, making in all One Hundred and 
Forty One jMen, were posted at Musa, (this was a small Fort 
about a Mile distant from the Castle which had been abandoned 
by the Spaniards at the General's first Approach) where they 
were soon after attacked by a superior Force of the Enemy, and 
a miserable Slaughter ensued, scarcely one Third of the Number 
escaping, the others being either killed or taken Prisoners. Thus 
these poor People, who, at the Expence of their Consciences, 
sign'd a Representation contrary to their own Interest and Ex- 
perience, and gave themselves entirely up to the General's Ser- 
vice ; by their Deaths at once freed his Excellency from his 
Debts and Promises, and put an End to the Settlement of Darien; 
for there are now in that Place not 07ie quarter Part of the 
Number who settled there at first, and that is made up chiefly of 
Women and Children ; and a Scout-Boat is stationed before the 
Town to j)revent any of them from going off. 

THIS Siege was raised about the latter End of July; the 
General with the Remainder of his Regiment returned to Fred- 
erica ; the Carolina Forces were shipped off for that Province ; 
the few Georgians that were left repaired, as soon as they were 
allowed, to their several Homes in a miserable Condition ; and the 
Indians marched towards their respective Countries, very much 
weakened and discontented ; the Chcrokees returned (as they 
came) by Savannah, and of One Hundred and Ten healthy 
Men, only about Twenty got to their Nation, the Rest either 
perished by Sickness or were slain ; And thus ended the Cam- 
paign in Florida. 

DURING these Transactions, Savannah decayed apace, and 
in August and September the same Year, People went away by 
Twenties in a Vessel, insomuch that one would have thought the 
Place must have been intirely forsaken ; for in these two Months 
about One Hundred Souls out of the County of Savannah left 
the Colony ; many others have since left it, and, we believe, more 
will leave it very soon. 

The Boats with their Hands which the General employed 
at that unfortunate Expedition, he neither will pay, subsist or let 
depart from that Place ; however they are stealing away by De- 
^ 7 grees :* And at this Time, of about Five Thousand 

1 740 ^°"^^ ^^^^^ ^^^' ^^ ^^I'io"^ Imbarkations, arrived in the 
Colony of Georgia, (exclusive of the Regiment) 
scarce as many Hundreds remain ; and those consist of the Saltzhur- 



* We are now informed, they are all got away, some of them being pai'J and 
some not. 



61 

gliers at Ebcnezer, who are yearly supported fioiu Germany 
and England; the People of Frederica, who are supported by 
Means of the Regiment ; the poor Remainder of the Darien ; a 
few Orphans, and others under that Denomination, supported by 
Mr. Whitcjield; together with some Dutch Servants inaintain'd 
for doing Nothing by the Trustees, with Thirty or Forty neces- 
sary Tools to keep the others in Subjection: And Those mak& 
up the poor Remains of the miserable Colony oi GEORGIA!* 

HAVING now brought down this Work to the Month of 
October, 1740, being about the Time most of the Authors of 
this NARRATB^E were obhged to leave that /a^«Z Colony ; 
we shall conclude the whole with a Geographical and Historical 
Account of its present State. 

p EORGIA lies in the 30 and 31 Degrees of North Lati- 
^^tude: The Air generally clear, the Rains being much 
shorter as well as heavier than in England ; the Dews are very 
great ; Thunder and Lightning are expected almost every Day 
in May, June, July and August; they are very terrible, especially 
to a Stranger: During those Months^ from Ten in the Morning 
to Four'm the Afternoon, the Sun is extreamly scorching; but 
the Sea-breeze sometimes blows from Ten till Three or Four : 
The Winter is nearly of the same Length as in England; but 
the Mid-day Sun is always warm, even when the Mornings and 
Evenings are very sharp, and the Nights piercing Cold. 

The Land is of Four Sorts; Pine Barren, Oak Land, 
Swamp land Marsh. The Pine Land is of far the greatest Extent, 
especialy near the Sea-Coa.sts: The Soil of this is a dry whitish 
Sand, producing Shrubs of several Sorts, and between them a 
harsh coarse kind of Grass, which Cattle do not love to feed 
upon; but here and there is a little of a better Kind, especially 
in the Savannas, (so they call the low watry Meadows which are 
usually intermixed with Pine Lands :) It bears naturally tivo 
sorts of Fruit ; Hurtle-Berries much like those in England and 
Chinquopin-Nuts, a dry Nut about the Size of a small Acorn : 
A laborious Man may in one Year clear and plant /owr or Jive 
Acres of this Land ; it will produce, the first Year from two to 
four Bushels of Indian Corn, and from four to eight of Indian 
Pease, per Acre ; the second Year it usually bears much about 
the same ; the third, less ; the fourth, little or nothing : Peaches 
it bears well ; likewise the Jfhite Mulberry, wdiich serves to feed 
the Silk- Worms ; the Black is about the Size of a Black Cherry, 
and has much the same Flavour. 



It is here to obscrv'd, that we have excUuiei! the Settleracnt of Augusta, it 
heing upon a quite diflerent Footing, 
J. 



6S 

The Oak Land commonly lies in narrow Streaks between 
Pine Land and Swamps, Creeks or Rivers ; Tlie Soil is a 
blackisli Sand, producing several Kinds of Oak, Bay, Laurel, 
Ash, Wallnut, Sumach and Gum Trees, a sort of Sycamore, 
Dog Trees and Hickory : In the choicest Part of this Land grow 
Parsimon Trees, and a lew Black Midharry and American 
Cherry Trees: The coniinon ivild Ci rapes are of two sorts, both 
red ; the Fox Grape grow two or three only on a Stalk, is thick- 
skin'd, large ston'd, of a harsh Taste, and of the Size of a small 
Cherry; the Chister Grape is of a harsh Taste too, and about 
the Size of a white Curran. This Land requires much Labour 
to clear; but when it is cleared, it will bear any Grain, for three, 
four ov five Years sometimes without laying any Manure upon 
it: An Acre of it generally produces Ten Bushels of Indian 
Corn, besides ^ve of Pease, in a Year; so that this is justly 
esteem'd the most valuable Land in the Province, white People 
being incapable to clear and cultivate the Swamps. 

A Swamp is any low vvatry Place, which is covered with 
Trees or Canes: They are here of three sorts, Cypress, River 
and Cane Swamps: Cypress Swamps are mostly large Ponds, in 
and round which Cypresses grow : Most River Swamps are 
overflown on every Side by the River which runs through or near 
them ; if they were drain'd they would produce good Rice : as 
would the Cane Swamps also, which in the mean Time are the 
best Feeding for all Sorts of Cattle. 

The Marshes are of two sorts ; soft wet Marsh which is all a 
Quagmire, and absolutely good for Nothing, and hard Marsh, 
which is a firm Sand ; but however at some Seasons is good for 
feeding Cattle: Marshes of both sorts abound on the Sea-Islands, 
which are very numerous, and contain all sorts of Land ; and 
upon these chiefly, near Creeks and Runs of Water, Ceder 
Trees grow. 

We shall only add to the above. That considering no Land 
can be sowed (or at least what is sowed preserved) till the same 
is inclosed, that^i;e Acres is the utmost a very able and laborious 
Man can propose to manage ; this being the Quantity allotted for 
the Task of a Negro in the Neighbouring Province, which Negro 
works four Hours each Day more than a white Man can do. 

It must next be noticed, that with regard to the above Returns 
(suppose a prosperous Season without Disap])ointments ; which 
is not the Case in such small Improvements as can be expected 
in an infant Colony one Year in five) either Drought burns or 
Rain drowns the Corn, and makes the Pease fall out of the 
Pod ; Deer (which no Fences can exclude) devour those little 
Settlements in a Night ; Rats and Squirrels do the same ; Bird ? 



<i9 

cat the Seed out of the Ground, and dig up the Blade after it is 
spired ; and variety of Worms and Insects devour the one Half 
of it : But let us suppose none of those Evils happened, let us 
view the Amount of the Produce valued at the highest Rate. 

The Produce of five Acres of Pine Land raised by one 
Hand, the first Year, 

Indian Corn, 20 Bushels at I. s. d. 

10 s. Currency per Bushel. 15 Sterling. 

Indian Pease, 40 Bush, at ditto. 2 10 



Total of ^^rsf Years Produce, 3 15 

The second Year the same ; the third less, the fourth little 
or nothing. 

Best Oak Land, five Acres, at 15 Bushels of Corn and 
Pease per Acre, is 75 Bushels at ditto Price, is 41. 13s. 9c?. 
Sterlitig. 

Let us next consider the Maintenance of every single white 
Servant per Annum, at the lowest Rate, and then the Reader 
will be able to judge, whether white People can get their Liveli- 
hood by planting Land in this Climate without Negroes ? And 
the Allowance to the Trustees Dutch Servants being the Least 
at which any white Servant could be maintained in Georgia, we 
shall therefore take our Estimation from it, which is Eight Pence 
Sterling per Day or 12/. 3s. 4d. Stei'l. per Ammm ; so that at 
a Medium, the Expence is three Times greater than the Produce, 
besides Tools, Medicines and other Necessaries. 

We must likewise observe, that the Proportion of Pine Bar- 
ren to either good Swamp or Oak and Hickory Land, is at least 
six to one ; that the far greater Number of the small Lots have 
none or very little Oak Land ; and if they had Swamp that 
would bear Rice, white People are imable to clear them if they 
are covered with Trees, and tho' only with Can eg, which is the 
easiest to cultivate ; it were simply impossibfe'To manufacture 
the Rice by white Men ; the Exercise being so severe, that no 
Negro can be employed in any otiier Work or Labour compar- 
able to it, and many Hundreds of them (notwithstanding all the 
Care of their Masters) yearly lose their Lives by that necessary 
Work. 

SAVANNAH stands on a flat Bluff (so they term a high 
Land hanging over a Creek or River) which rises about Fort-y 
Feet perpendicular from the River, and commands it several 
Miles both upwards and downwards, and it if was not for a Point 
of Woods which about four Miles down the River, stretches 
itself out towards the South-East, one might have a View of 
the Sea, and the Island of Tiihee, : The Soil is a white Sand 



70 

for above a Mile in Breadth South-Easl and North-VVebt; bevond 
this, Eastward, is a River Swamp ; Westward, a small Body of 
Wood-land, (in which was the old Indian Town) separated by a 
Creek from a large Tract of Land, which runs upwards along the 
Side of the Jliver, for the Space of -ahoui five Miles; and being, 
by far, the best near the Town is leserved tor the Indians, as 
General Oglethorpe declares, as are also some of the Islands in 
the River Savannah, and the theee most valuable Islands upon 
all the Coast of that Province, viz. Ossiba, St. Katherine and 
Sapula. South-West of the Town is a Pine Ban-en that extends 
ahout fourteen Miles to Vernon River. 

On the East Side of the Town is situated the Puhliclc Garden 
(being ten Acres inclos'd, on a barren Piece of Land, where it is 
hardly possible for what is planted to live, but impossible to 
thrive ; and from this Garden were all the Planters to have been 
furnished with Mulberry-Trees, &fC. 

The Plan of the Town was beautifully laid out in Wards, 
Tythings, and Publick Squares left at proper Distances for Mar- 
kets and Publick Buildings ; the Whole making an agreeable 
Uniformity. 

The Publick Works in this Town are, l.s^, A Court-house 
being one handsome Room with a piache on three Sides : This like- 
wise, serves for a Church for Divine Service ; none having been 
ever built, notwithstanding the Trustees in their Publick Acts, 
acknowledge the Receipt of about Seven Hundred Pounds Ster- 
ling, from charitable Persons for that express Purpose. 

'idly, Opposite to the Court-House stands the Logg House or 
Prison (which is the only one remaining o(Jive or six that have 
been successively built in Sava7inah^ that Place of Terror and 
Support of absolute Power in Georgia. 

3dly, Nigh thereto is a House built of Loggs, at a very great 
Charge, as was said, for the Trustees Steward ; the Foundation 
below Ground is already rotten, * as the whole Fabrick must be 
in a short Time ; for the Roof being flat, the Rain comes in at 
all Parts of it. 

4th, The Store-house, which has been many Times altered 
and amended at a very great Charge ; and it now serves as a 
Store ibr the private Benefit of one or two, as before mentioned. 

5th, The Guard-house, which was first built on the Bluif soon 
decayed ; as did a second thro' improper Management ; this now 
standing being the third. Several Flag-Staffs were likewise 
erected, the last of which, according to common Report, cost 
50 /. Sterling. 

* In .August, 1740, a new Foundation was begun. 



71 

6th, A Publick Mill for grinding Corn, wag first erected at a 
considerable Expence, in one Square of the Town; but in about 
three Years Time (without doing the least Service) it fell to the 
Ground: In another Square of the Town a second was set wf, at 
a far greater Expence, but never finished, and is now erased and 
converted into a House for entertaining the Indians, and other 
such like Uses. 

Ith, Wells and Pximps were made at a great Charge ; but they 
were immediately choaked up, and never rendered useful, though 
this Grievance was frequently represented both to the General 
and Magistrates; the Want of Wells obliging the Inhabitants to 
use the River Water, which all the Suunner over is polluted 
with putrid Marshes and the numberless Insects that deposite 
their Ova there, together with putrified Carcasses of Animals and 
corrupted Vegetables ; and this no doubt occasion'd much of the 
Sickness that swept off many. 

Several of the Houses which were built by Free-holders, for 
Want of Heirs Male, are fallen to the Trustees (even to the 
Prejudice of the lawful Creditors of the Deceased) and are 
disposed of as the General thinks proper. 

At least Tivo Hundred Lots were taken up in SavaJinah, 
about One Hundred and Seventy of which were built *upon ; a 
great many of these are now ruinous, and many more shut up and 
abandoned ; so that the Town appears very desolate, scarce one 
quarter part of it's Inhabitants being left, and most of those in a 
miserable Condition, for Want of the proper Necessaries of Life. 

St. SIMONS Island, having on the East the Gulf of Florida, 
on the other sides Branches of the Alatamaha, is about One 
Hundred Miles South of Savannah, and extends in Length about 
Twenty, in Breadth from two to five Miles : On the West Side 
of it, on a low Bluff, stands FREDERICA, having Woods to 
the North and South, to the East partly Woods, partly Savannas 
and partly Marsh. 

The soil is mostly blackish Sand ; the Fortifications are 
augmented since the Retreat from Augustine, and here lie most 
of the Remains of General Oglethorpe's Regiment: Frederica 
was laid out in Form of a Crescent, divided into One Hundred 
and Forty Four Lots whereof about Fifty were built upon ; the 
Number of the Inhabitants, notwithstanding of the Circulation 
of the Regiment's Money, are not above One Hundred and 
Twenty, Men, Women and Children, and these are daily stealing 
away by all possible Ways. On the Sea Point, about j'ive Miles 



* Several of these had more than one House upon theia. 



i:Z 



South East of the Town, were three Companies of the Soldiers 
stationed before the Attempt upon St. Augustine; several pretty- 
Houses were built by the Oflicers, and many Lots set off to the 
Soldiers and entered upon by them ; most if not all now desolate. 
Several of the Officers of the Regiment brought over Servants 
to cultivate Land; Col. Cochran 20 Servants; Lieut. ifo?-^o7i at 
Jekyl, 16 Servants; Capt. Gascoign at least as many; all gone; 
and, according to the best of our Information, about Tioo Hun- 
dred of the Regiment are diminished. 

About Twe?iti/ Miles North-West from St. Simons, is DA- 
RIEN, the Settlement of the Scots High-Landers; the Town is 
situate on the Main Land, close to a Branch of tlie Alatamaha 
River, on a Bluff Twenty Feet high ; the Town is surrounded 
on all sides with Woods ; the Soil is a blackish Sand : Here were 
upwards of Two Hundred and Fifty Persons Settled, who in 
Spring, 1 736, built a large Fort for their own Protection ; and 
the poor Remains of these are now no more than Fifty three 
(above two Thirds of which arc Women and Children) i)esides 
eleven of the Trustees Servants inlisted as Soldiers, and stationed 
there under the Command of an Officer, in order to keep the 
others from going away, who are nevertheless making their 
i^scape daily. 

The Southermost Settlement in Georgia, is FORT St. AN- 
DREWS, Fifty Miles South from Frederica, on the South- 
West side of Cumberland Island, upon a high Neck of Land 
which commands the River both Ways ; the Walls are of Wood,' 
fill'd up with Earth, round which are a Ditch and Pallisade; tivo 
Companies of General Oglethorpe^ s Regiment were formerly 
stationed there, but are now mostly drawn to Frederica. 

Opposite to Frederica, on the Main, were settled Messrs. 
Carr and Carteret, with above Twenty Servants, where the)^ 
cleared a considerable Tract of Land ; but that Plantation is now 
quitted, and their Servants either dead or dispersed. We have 
lately heard from Frederica, that the General having station'd 
10 or 12 Men upon this Place, they were attacked by Span- 
iards or Spanish Indians, 4 were killed, 4 carried off and 2 left 
wounded. 

NEWEBENEZER, to which the Saltzhurghcrs removed 
from their former Habitation at Old Ebenezer, consists of about 
One Hundred Persons, under the Government of Mr. Boltzius, 
their Pastor ; they live and labour in a kind of Community, and 
never commix or associate with Strangers ; they have been hitherto 
liberally supported both from Germany and England, and their 
Rights and Privileges have been much more extensive than any 
others in the Coloov: This Town lies six- Miles Eastward from 



T6 

iheold, on a high Bluff upon the side oi iSavanna River, &\\6 forty 
Miles from Sava7i7iah. Near to this Place on a Creek of tho 
same River, was built a Saw-Mill, which cost of the Publick 
Money above 1500/. Stcrl. but, like most other publick Works, 
is now intircly minous. 

About Ten Miles East of Ebenezcr, on a Creek three Miles 
from the River, was the Village of ABERCORN, in the 
Year, 1733 there were ten Families settled there, and several 
afterwards: In the Year 1737, Mr. Jo/m Brodie with twelve 
Servants settled there: But all those are gone, and it is now a 
Heap of Ruins. 

Four Miles below Ahercorn, upon the River side is Jose/pK's 
Town, which was the Settlement of some Scots Gentlemen with 
thirty Servants ; but they have now left it, most of their Servants 
having died there. 

A IVIile below, on the River side, is the Settlement where Sii' 
Francis Bathurst, with twelve in Family and Servants, wa§ 
placed, now in Ruins, without an Inhabitant. 

A Quarter of a Mile below was the Settlement of Walter 
Augustine, with six in Family : Within this Settlement was 
another Mill erected, at the Charge of above 800/. Sterling, all 
now in Ruins, without an Inhabitant. 

A Mile below is Landiloe, the Settlement of Mr. Robert 
Williams, with forty Servants, who made large Improvements 
there, and continued for the space of four Years planting each 
Season with great Industry in various shapes, still expecting (with 
the other Settlers) an Alteration in the Constitution ; but at last 
.having sunk a great deal of Money, he was obliged to leave it, 
with the Loss of above Two Thousand Pounds Sterling ; and it 
is now uninhabited, and very much decayed. Next below that 
is the Five hundred Acre Tract belonging jto Dr. Patrick Tail- 
fer; which was settled, but found impracticable to proceed upon, 
by Reason of the Hardships and Restrictions in the Colony. 
Next to that is Mr. Jacob Matheivs^s Plantation (formerly Mr. 
Musgrovt' s) called the Cow-pen, who lived there some Time 
with ten Servants ; but has now left it, and keeps only tivo or 
three to look after his Cattle. Adjoining to this was Mr. Cooksey's 
Settlement, w'wh five m Family; now Intirely abandoned. Next 
to this was Capt. Watson's Plantation, with a good House, now 
in Ruins. All these lie upon the side of the River. And upon 
the East and Southward, were the Settlements of Young, Finery, 
Polhil and Wanvick; all forsaken. Next upon the River side is 
the Indian Land before mentioned, separated from the foregoing 
Settlements by a Creek, and running all along to the Town : A 
little below this Creek is u Place called Irejie, where Mr. John 



Y 



74 

iVesly built u pretty good House for an Indian School ; but lie 
!?oon we;uied of that Undertaking, and left it. A little below 
this is the Indian Town called New-Yamacra, were the Remain- 
der of Tumo Chachis Indians reside. 

Five Miles South-West of Savannah, on a small Rise, stands 
the Village of Highgatc : Twelve Families were settled here in 
i'i'VS, mostly French, now reduced to Two. A Mile Eastward 
of this is Hampstead, where several German Families were set- 
tled in 1733, and some others since, now reduced to none. 

Five Miles South-East of 6'flyart«a7«, is THUNDERBOLT, 
where there was a good Timber Fort, and three Families with 
twenty Servants were settled ; but it is now all in Ruins and 
al)andoned. 

Four Miles South of this is the Island of Slciddoivay, on the 
North-East Point whereof Ten Families were settled in 1733 ; 
now reduced to none. 

A Creek divides S/dddoivay from TYBEE Island, on the 
South-East Part of which, fronting the Inlet, the Light-House is 
built : Twelve Families were settled here in 1734, who have now 
forsaken it. 

Twelve Miles Southward by Land from Savannah, is Mr. 
Ilonston's Plantation, kept with one Servant. And, 

About Thirty Miles irom that, uj) the River Ogecche, was the 
Settlements of Messrs. Stirlings, Sj-c. with Twenty-Jive Servants: 
This Place, when they went there, was the Southermost Settle- 
ment in the Colony, and very *remote ; so that they were obliged 
to build, at their own Expence and at a considerable Charge, a 
strong Wooden Fort for their Defence. And the said Messrs. 
Stirlings having resided there about three Years with the Ser- 
vants, they were oblig'd to leave it after having exhausted their 
Fortunes to no Purpose in the Experiment. 

Twenty Miles above this, on a high Bluff on the same River, 
stands Fort Argyle:-\ 'Tis a small square Wooden Fort, Mus- 
quet-Proof: Ten Families were settled here and about it; now all 
gone; and the Fort itself garrison'd by one Ofticer, one Dutch 
Servant, and one Woman, who were lately surprized in the 
Officer's Absence, by two Prisoners that broke out of the Logg- 
house in Savannah, and both murdered. 

Near the Mouth of Vernon River, upon a kind of an Island 



* This was the only Spot allow'd them to settle uponi any other Place being 
Tefused. 

t This is the Place where a Body of Horse called the Southern Rangers, un- 
der the Command of Capt. James Macplurson, were siation'd for several 
Years. They were paid by the Government of Carolina; hut have been dis- 
charged for Siime Time by past. 



75 

(which is called Hope Isle) are the Settlements of Messrs. John 
s FaUowJield, Henry Parker and Noble Jones: They have made 
some Improvements there, but chiefly Mr. FaUowJield, who has 
a pretty little convenient House and Garden, with a considerable 
stock of Hoggs, and some Cattle, ^c. and where he generally 
resides with his Family. Near adjoining to this, upon a Piece 
of Land which commands the *Narrows, is a Timber Building 
called Jones'* Fort ; which serves for two Uses, namely, to support 
Mr. Noble Jones, who is Commander of it, and to prevent the 
poor People of Frederica from getting to any other Place, where 
they might be able to support themselves. 

About three Miles South-East of Savannah^ upon Augustine 
Creek, lies Oxstead, the Settlement of Mr. Thomas Causton^ 
improven by many Hands and at a great Charge, where he now 
resides with a few Servants. Betwixt Oxstead and the Town of 
Savannah lie : \st, Hermitage, the Settlement of Mr. Hugh 
Anderson, who had seventeen in Family and Servants ; but he 
was obliged both to leave that and retire from the Colony about 
two Years ago, upon Account of the general Hardships. 2c?/y, 
The Settlements of Mr. Thomas Christie, and six others belong- 
ing to the Township of Savannah : all now forsaken. 3rf, The 
Settlements of the Germans of Count Zinzendorff who were 
twenty Families ; which are likewise now intirely abandon'd, they 
having all gone to other Colonies. 

Upon the West side of Savannah, lie the Township Lots of 
the Jews, now deserted, (they having all gone to other Colonies, 
except three or four) as are all others on that Quarter, excepting 
one or two. 

About three Miles from Savannah, on the South, the Settle- 
ment of Mr. William Williamson is in the same Condition: 
And also, 

The Settlement belonging to the Trustees adjoining to Mr. 
Williamson^ s ; which was committed by them to the Care of Mr. 
William Bradley, their Steward, to be cultivated and improved 
by him at their Charge, as an Example to others, and to satisfy 
themselves what Improvements in Land were practicable by white 
Servants : The Event might have open'd the Eyes of any that 
would see : Upwards of twenty, sometimes thirty Servants were 
employ'd ; above Two Thousand Pounds Sterling expended in 
the Experiment ; and never so much of any kind of Grain raised 
from it, as would have maintain'd the Numbers employed about 
it six Months : It now lies on a PaiT with the most ruinous Plan- 

* This is a narrow Passage, thro' which Boats are obliged to pass and repasp 
in going to and from the Southward. 



76 

tation in Georgia. Part of their Dutch Servants have beCit 
employed last Year by Mr. Thomas Jones, upon a new Plant!- . 
tion about a Mile to the Southward of Savannah ; They were 
Twenty-jive in Number, and maintain'd at the Expence of Sd. 
sterling each per Diem ; and we have lately been credibly inform- 
ed, the Whole Produce did not exceed Ojie Hundred Bushels 
of Corn. 

The Orphan-Honse is situated about fourteen Miles South 
East of Savannah: This famous Work was begun in March, 
1740; and during the space of six Months, there were about 
One Hundred People, Men, Women and Children, maintain'd 
and employ 'd about it; and according to their own Calculation, 
they have expended near Four Thousand Pounds Sterling : But 
ever since Mr. JVhite field left Georgia the latter End of August 
in the same Year, it has decayed a-pace ; for, besides those he 
then carried to the Northward with him, a great many have since 
left them ; and their Money growing short, they were soon obliged 
to discharge most of the Workmen ; besides of late, many Divi- 
sions have arisen amongst them : In short, the Design seems to 
be drawing near a Period, altho' at this Time the House itself 
is scarcely half finished : It is built upon a low Pine Barren, 
surrounded on one Side with a large Tract oisalt Marsh, extend- 
ing to Vernon River, to which they have a Passage by Water 
when the Tides are up for small Craft ; on the other Side it is 
surrounded with Woods ; They have cleared about ten Acres of 
Ground, and have built several Houses and Huts. The Frame 
of the Orphan-House is up, the Roof shingled, and the Sides 
weather boarded: It is sixty Feet in Length, /or^i/ Feet wide: 
It has two Stories Ijesides Cellars and Garrets ; the Cellars are 
built of Brick, which likewise serves for a Foundation to the 
whole Building : It would certainly be a fine Piece of Work, if 
finished ; but if it were finished, where is the Fund for its support ? 
and what Service can an Orphan-House be in a Desert and a 
forsaken Colony. 

About three or four Miles from the Orphan-House, on the side 
of Vernon River, William Stephens, Esq ; (formerly mentioned) 
lias a Plantation with five or six Servants, who have cleared about 
seven or eight Acres : However if he reaps no Benefit from them, 
lie is at as little Charge to maintain them.* 

As it would be too tedious to mention particularly the Township 
ovfive and forty-five Acre Lots, being in all about One Hundred 
that were settled ; we need only therefore in general say that 



" The Trustees allow him so many Serranu, and their Maintenance. 



77 

there are few or none of them but what are in the same Con- 
dition with those before specified, viz. ruinous and desolate. 

The last Place we shall mention is A UG USTA, distant from 
Savannah Two Hundred Miles up the River, on the same Side : 
It was founded in 1737, at a considerable Charge, under the 
Direction of one Mr. Roger Lacy, being at that Time Agent to 
the Cherokee Nation : It is principally, if not altogether, inhabited 
by Indian Traders and Store-keepers, the Number of whom may 
now be about thirty or upwards ; and a considerable Quantity of 
Corn has been raised there : To account for this singular Circum- 
stance we shall only assign two Reasons ; the first is the goodness of 
the Land, which at so great a Distance from the Sea is richer than 
in the maritime Parts; the second and chief one is, that the Settlers 
there are indulged in and conniv'd at the Use of Negroes, by whom 
they execute all the laborious Parts of Culture ; and the Fact is 
undoubted and certain, that upwards of Eighty Negroes are 
now in the Settlements belonging to that Place : We do not observe 
this as if it gives us any Uneasiness, that our Fellow-Planters 
are indulged in what is so necessary for their Well-being ; but we 
may be allowed to regret, that we and so many British Subjects, 
who stood much more in need of them, should have been ruined 
for Want of such Assistances. 

HAVING now taken a Survey of the Colony of Georgia, we 
shall conclude this Treatise by taking Notice of two or three of 
the most remarkable Transactions in it since October last. 

ON the Tenth Day of November a Court was called at Savan- 
nah, where Col. Stephens read a Paragraph of a Letter, which 
he said was from the Trustees, desiring the Inhabitants to set 
forth their Miseries, Hai'dships and Difficulties in Writing, in 
order to have the Seal of the Colony annexed thereto, and so 
transmitted to the Trustees: Whereupon Mr. Stcjihens gave 
the Recorder a Paper to read, in which the Colony was repre- 
sented in a most flourishing Condition, (in the Town of Augusta 
alone, there were represented to be white People, and 

Pack-horses belonging thereto, who were employ- 
ed in the Indian Trade) enumerating the many useful, fine and 
curious Productions of it, such as Hedges with Pomegranates 
growing upon them, Wine, Silk, Oil, Wheat, ^c. with many other 
Hyperboles : This Paper Mr. Stejjhens said he had been at great 
Care and Pains about, and which he took to be a just Answer to 
the Trustees Letter, with the true State of the Colony: But the 
poor People seeing the Absurdity and Falseness of it, soon dis- 
cover'd their Dislike thereof by their leaving the Court-house ; 
and only cigfiteen Persons signed the same, every one of whom 
were suppoiied in one Shape or other by the Publick ; Mr. 



78 

Fallowficld , then on tlic Bench, used wliat Arguments lie could 
to persuade hiin, That it was reasonable every Person should 
represent his own Case to the Trustees, and he apprehended the 
Desiirn of the Trustees was such; but Stephens in a Passion said, 
Except they would sign this, they should have the Publick Seal 
to no other Paper; so it was to no Purpose what either he or the 
Recorder Mr. John Fy could urcje, who very soon left the Court, 
declarin^f their Dislike and Abhorrence of such Proceedings ; but 
immediately they, with the Rest of the Inhabitants, to the Num- 
ber of above sixty, drew up a Remonstrance to the Trustees, in 
which they fully set forth the true State of the Colony, with their 
own miserable Condition in it: This Paper, and soon after a 
Petition to the King and Council, fyc. were lately transmitted to 
the Authors hereof, who immediately forwarded then for London ; 
but as the Issue thereof is now depending, we don't think it 
proper to expose them to the Publick. 

On the 2d of April last a Fire broke out by Accident in a 
Smith's Forge in Savannah, which consumed almost one whole 
Square ; and in the highest Rage of the devouring Flames, Mr. 
Thomas Jones stood an idle Spectator with his Hands in his 
Bosom, and with the utmost Unconcemedness, insomuch, that 
when he was applied to by several of the miserable People for a 
small Quantity of Gun-Powder to blow up an adjoining House, 
in order to prevent the Fire from spreading, his Answer was, 1 
can do Nothing in it, I have no Orders concerning such Mat- 
ters. 

We have lately been informed from Frederica, that the Gene- 
ral having stationed twelve Men upon the Place which was the 
Settlement of Messrs. Ker and Carteret before mentioned, they 
were attacked by Spaniards or Spanish Indians, and four were 
killed, ybwr carried off, and two wounded. 

A good many of the People have come away from Frederica 
lately, and in order to get off were obliged to make use of 
Stratagems, such as going a Hunting upon the Islands, fyc. We 
are informed, that some Differences have happened betwixt the 
General and some of the Magistrates there, and that in the Place 
of one of them he has appointed one of his waiting Boys. Seve- 
ral of the poor Remainder of the Darien People have likewise 
escaped, notwithstanding the Body of Forces stationed there 
to prevent them. 

HAVING thus brought this Historical Narrative within the 
Compass proposed, and endeavoured to dispose the Materials in 
as distinct a Method and Series as the necessary Conciseness 
\vould allow : We readily admit that the Design is far from being 



79 

compleat. To have acquainted the World with all the Hardships 
and Oppressions which have been exercised in the Colony of 
Georgia, must have required both a larger Volume than we 
were capable of publishing, and more Time than we could 
bestow: We therefore satisfy ourselves, that we have, with Care 
and Sincerity, executed so much of the Design, as may pave the 
Way to any others who can descend more minutely to Particu- 
lars; and those who are best acquainted with the Affairs of that 
Colony, will be most capable of judging how tenderly we have 
touch'd both Persons and Things. 

IT only remains, that we in a few Paragraphs endeavour to 
exhibit to the View of the Reader, tlie REAL Causes of the 
Ruin and Desolation of the Colony ; and those briefly are the 
following. 

1 . The Representing the Climate, Soil, he. of Georgia in 
false and too flattering Colours; at least, the not contradicting 
those Accounts lohen publicJcly printed and- dispersed, and satis- 
fying the World in a true and genuine Description thereof. 

2. The Restricting the Tenure of Lands from a Fee simple 
to Tail-Male, cutting off Daughters and all other Relations. 

3. The Restraining the Proprietor from selling, disposing of 
or leasing any PossessioJi. 

4. The Restricting too much the Extent of Possessions ; it 
being impossible that fifty Acres of good Land, much less Pine 
Barren, could maintain a white Family. 

5. The Laying the Planter under a Variety of Restraints in 
clearing, fencing, jylnnting, he. which icas impossible to be 
complied with. 

6. The Kcacting a much higher Quit-Rent than the richest 
Grounds in North- America can bear. 

7. But chiefly the Denying the Use of Negroes, and persist- 
ing in such Denial after, by repeated Applications, we had humbly 
remonstrated the Impossibility of making Improvements to any 
Advantage with ivhite Servants. 

8. The Denying us the Privilege of being judged by the 
Laws of our Mother Country; and siibjecting the Lives and 
Fortunes of all People in the Colony, to one Person or Set of 
Men, who assumed the Privilege, under the Name of a Court of 
Chancery, of acting according to their own Will and Fancy. 

9. General Oglethorpe's taking upon him to nominate Ma- 
gistrates, appoint Justices of the Peace, and to do many other 
such Things, ivithout ever exhibiting to the People any leo-al 
Commission or Authority for so doing. 

10. The Neglecting the proper Means for Encouraging the 
Silk and Wine-Manufactures i and disposing of the liberal Suma 



80 

contributed by the Publick, a7id by private Fersoiis, in audi Ways 
and Channeh as have been of little or no Service to the Colony. 

11. The Misapplying or Keeping up Sums of Money which 
have been appointed for particular Uses, such as Building a. 
Church, &ic. several Hundreds of Pounds Sterling (as wc arc 
infornCd) having been lodged in Mr. Oglethorpe's Hands for 
some Years by past, for that Purpose, and not one Stone of it 
yet laid. 

12. The Assigning certain fx^d Tracts of hand to those who 
came to settle in the Colony, without any regard to the Quality 
of the Ground, Occupation, Judgment, Ability or Inclination of 
the Settler, he. k,c. &c. 

By these and many other such Hardships, the poor Inliabi- 
tants of Georgia are scatter'd over the Face of the Earth ; lier 
Plantations a Wild ; her Towns a Desert ; her Villages in Rub- 
bish ; her Improvements a By-Word, and her Liberties a Jest : 
An Object of Pity to Friends, and of Insult, Contempt and 
Ridicule to Enemies. 



THE END. 



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